Acute Myocardial Infarction: Prognosis after Recovery

Abstract

A prognostic index for 2 yr survival after recovery from acute myocardial infarction was constructed from variables obtained during its course. Of 143 patients, 110 survived 2 yr, and 27 of 33 patients died of cardiac-related causes. Univariate analysis showed that 12 variables were significantly different between the surviving and nonsurviving groups. Discriminant analysis indicated 5 variables with meaningful predictive value to be included in a prognostic index: admission systolic blood pressure; highest blood urea N level in the cardiac care unit; atrial arrhythmias in the cardiac care unit; angina pectoris for more than 3 mo. or a previous myocardial infarction; and more than 1 ventricular ectopic beat/h recorded on a dynamic ECG during the 17th-24th hospital day. The prognostic index emphasized the importance of extensive myocardial impairment and provided a means for identifying patients at risk of early mortality.