title: Long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction. Who is at risk for sudden death?
abstract: Patients who have survived myocardial infarction may be at risk for recurrent infarction or sudden death within the first year. Clinical factors that identify high-risk patients include the following: Poor left ventricular function Presence of spontaneous ventricular ectopy Abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram Decreased heart rate variability Exercise-induced depression of the ST segment Inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmia When these high-risk patients are identified, appropriate strategies (eg, use of antiarrhythmic agents or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) may improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix 85006.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mattioni
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000592:standards; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013318:Stroke Volume; D015996:Survival Rate