Myocardial infarction in old people. The influence of diabetes mellitus.
The clinical features and outcome were determined for 100 consecutive patients aged 65 years or older with a history of diabetes mellitus who presented to hospital with acute myocardial infarction. Each case was compared with an age- and sex-matched nondiabetic control also admitted to hospital with acute myocardial infarction. Chest pain was equally common in both groups and was the main presenting symptom. Cardiac failure was a more frequent accompaniment in the diabetics, despite the lack of evidence for greater infarct size in this group. The outcome was worst for female diabetics, of whom 46% died. Contrary to popular teaching, painless myocardial infarction is not a specific feature of elderly diabetics.
Day
J J
JJ
University Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Bayer
A J
AJ
Chadha
J S
JS
Pathy
M S
MS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis