Myocardial Infarction Within 6 Months Before Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Is Associated With Significantly Increased Risk of Postoperative Myocardial Infarction

Purpose To evaluate the association between myocardial infarction (MI) timing within 2 years prior to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) and postoperative cardiac, medical, and surgical complications. Methods The PearlDiver Mariner Database (2010‐2022) was queried to identify patients undergoing aRCR (CPT‐29827). Patients with an MI within 2 years before surgery were propensity matched 1:4 to controls without MI based on demographics and comorbidities. Subgroup analyses evaluated MI timing (0‐6, 6‐12, 12‐18, and 18‐24 months), MI type (type 1 vs type 2, ST‐elevation MI vs non‐ST‐elevation MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) status, guideline‐directed medical therapy, and infarct location. Primary outcomes included 90‐day medical and 2‐year surgical complications. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results A total of 2886 patients with prior MI were matched to 10,613 controls. Prior MI increased the odds of postoperative MI (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 2.13, 8.32). The highest risk of postoperative MI occurred when aRCR was performed within 6 months of MI (odds ratio, 7.55; 95% confidence interval, 4.38, 13.01), with no significant elevation beyond this window. Type 1 MI was associated with postoperative MI and mortality, whereas type 2 MI was associated with acute kidney injury, pneumonia, and readmission. Both ST‐elevation MI and non‐ST‐elevation MI were linked to increased postoperative MI risk. Patients without PCI showed broader postoperative complications, including mortality, acute kidney injury, and stiffness, compared with those who underwent PCI. Conclusions Recent MI is associated with increased postoperative risk of MI after aRCR, particularly when surgery is performed within 6 months. Patients without PCI experience additional vulnerability. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.