Early and Sudden Deaths after Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Patients (1329) were discharged after acute myocardial infarction initially treated in a CCU [coronary care unit]. In a 5 yr follow-up, 537 (40%) of the patients died. Data registered during the CCU period showed that, apart from age, the most important factors regarding long-term prognosis were previous ischemic heart disease and direct or indirect signs of heart failure. The probability of predicting sudden death (130 patients died within 2 h of onset of final symptoms during the follow-up period) were small, but a definite dominance of sudden death occurred in patients < 60 yr of age. The clinical profile of most of the 134 patients who died during the 1st half-yr was a history of prior myocardial infarction and signs of left heart failure during the CCU stay. In many patients dying early after discharge, unfavorable prognostic signs were registered.