Using Cardiac MRI to Study Heart Scars and Predict Sudden Death After Heart Attack

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether the characteristics of myocardial scar tissue, seen through cardiac magnetic resonance CMR imaging, can predict the risk of sudden cardiac death SCD after a heart attack myocardial infarction, MI. This study focuses on improving risk prediction beyond current methods that mainly use heart function measures, by developing a combined imaging and clinical risk score. The study includes patients who had CMR scans during their stable recovery phase after MI and follows them to assess outcomes. This observational study has two phases a retrospective phase reviewing patient records and CMR scans from 2015 to 2025, and a prospective phase collecting follow-up data from 2026 through 2036. Prognostic information is gathered mainly through clinic visits and telephone interviews every six months. The study tracks events related to sudden cardiac death, such as resuscitated cardiac arrests and device therapies, as well as other outcomes like overall mortality and heart failure hospitalizations. Participants will be monitored regularly over 10 to 20 years, with data collected on survival, cardiac events, and device interventions. Researchers will use CMR-determined scar features alongside clinical data to evaluate their ability to predict sudden cardiac death risk. Safety and ongoing health will be observed during follow-up visits, and the study aims to provide better tools for identifying patients who might benefit from preventive therapies after MI.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance - PROgnostic HEart Scar for Sudden Cardiac Death Prediction StudY