Coronary disease & ACS

Gut microbiota-derived imidazole propionate predicts cardiometabolic risk in patients with coronary artery disease

Eur Heart JPublished Prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Gut microbiota-derived ImP predicted MACE in patients with CAD independently of traditional risk factors

Study context

Population
Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD): Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (Swiss ACS, Swiss CMR, German ACS cohorts) and chronic coronary syndrome (German chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) cohort)independent prospective cohorts
Exposure
Circulating imidazole propionate levels and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)
Outcome
MACE:
  • First occurrence of death
  • Non-fatal MI
  • Non-fatal stroke after admission
Methodological detailsmultiple independent cohorts, multivariable Cox models
  • Multiple independent cohorts
  • Multivariable Cox models

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

MACE
ImPHazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Swiss ACS cohort; per log2 increase; adjusted for established risk factors
1.22(1.10–1.35)
P < 0.001
German ACS cohort; adjusted
2.34(1.46–3.76)
P < 0.001
German CCS cohort; adjusted
1.32(1.13–1.53)
P < 0.001

Per log2 increase, as printed

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Mortality

HR (95% CI)P value
ImPSwiss ACS cohort; adjusted for established risk factors1.34 (1.17–1.54)P < 0.001
ImPGerman ACS cohort; adjusted for established risk factors2.38 (1.48–3.82)P < 0.001
ImPGerman CCS cohort; adjusted for established risk factors1.50 (1.14–1.98)P = 0.004

Predictive value beyond trimethylamine N-oxide

HR (95% CI)P value
Imidazole propionateSwiss ACS cohort1.30 (1.05–1.61)P = 0.014
Imidazole propionateGerman CCS cohort1.31 (1.12–1.53)P = 0.001

Original publication

Gut microbiota-derived imidazole propionate predicts cardiometabolic risk in patients with coronary artery disease. Eur Heart J. Published 30 August 2025. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf661

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