Association between hemoglobin glycation index and all-cause mortality in patients with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: The hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) has emerged as a potential marker for cardiovascular risk stratification. However, its prognostic value in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. This study investigated the association between HGI and all-cause mortality in this population. Methods: This single-center cohort study included 635 patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI between January 2016 and July 2023. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Over a median follow-up of 60 months, higher HGI was associated with more favorable survival. In the fully adjusted model, a 1-unit increase in HGI was associated with a 43% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.40-0.82, P=0.002). Patients in the highest HGI tertile also had a lower risk of mortality than those in the lowest HGI tertile (HR=0.26, 95% CI: 0.10-0.66, P=0.004). RCS analysis indicated a linear inverse association. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that the inverse association appeared more evident in men than in women. Conclusion: HGI was associated with all-cause mortality and may serve as a complementary marker for risk stratification in patients with NSTEMI undergoing PCI.