Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)

Definition:

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is a term used in medicine to describe a combination of serious events that can affect the heart and blood vessels. There is no single, universally agreed-upon definition of MACE, but it typically includes some of or all of the following:

• Cardiovascular death: Death caused by heart disease or stroke
• Heart attack: Damage to the heart muscle caused by a blocked coronary artery
• Stroke: Sudden loss of blood flow to part of the brain
• Unstable angina: New or worsening chest pain
• Heart failure: A condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood effectively
• Revascularization procedures: Procedures to open blocked arteries, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)

The specific definition of MACE used in a particular study or trial will depend on what research question is being addressed.