Inflammation and Acute Coronary Syndromes

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients with age ≥ 18 years presenting within 5 days (preferably within 72 hours) after pain onset with the main diagnosis of ACS (acute myocardial infarction: STEMI /NSTEMI and threatened infarction: unstable angina pectoris), who enter the hospital: The patients show symptoms, which are compatible with angina pectoris (chest pain, dyspnoea) and at least one of the following characteristics: * persistent ST-segment elevation or depression, T inversion or dynamic ECG changes, new left bundle branch block (LBBB) * Evidence of positive troponin by local laboratory reference values with a rise and/or fall in serial troponin levels * known coronary artery disease, specified as status after myocardial infarction, CABG, or PCI or newly documented ≥50% stenosis of an epicardial coronary artery during the initial catheterization Exclusion Criteria: * Severe physical disability, * Dementia (inability to comprehend study), OR * Less than 1 year of life expectancy (for non-cardiac reasons).