AimThe present study aimed to explore these characteristics, particularly thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), in relation to residual syntax score (rSS) in patients who presented with acute MI.Methods and outcomesA total of 434 consecutive patients with MI aged ≥18 years who had STEMI underwent primary PCI. Notably, compared with other subgroups, the presence of TCFA in culprit lesions and a higher level of rSS, were significantly associated with MACE. When rSS was divided into three groups, high rSS levels were associated with a higher incidence of MACE, in the subgroups of without TCFA (P= 0.005), plaque erosion (P= 0.045), macrophage infiltration (P= 0.026), and calcification (P= 0.002). AUC of ROC curve was 0.794 and 0.816, whereas the AUC of the survival ROC was 0.798 and 0.846.ConclusionThe results of this study could be used in clinical practice to support risk stratification.Trial registrationThis study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03593928.