Methods: Blood samples, drawn at a median of 3 days post AMI were obtained from 236 patients with complicated
AMI and evidence of heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. Using exploratory factor analysis,
37 biomarkers were grouped according to their collinearity to each other into clusters. The clusters were
used as a model to elucidate interdependencies between individual biomarkers. Each cluster defines a specific
pathophysiological process, called factor. These factors were used as covariates in multivariable Coxproportional
hazard regression analyses for prediction of all-cause death and the combined endpoint of cardiovascular
death and re-infarction.