The significance of ST and T changes for the development of coronary events in patients with acute coronary chest pain, treated in a coronary care unit without verified acute myocardial infarction.
The one-year prognosis for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was compared with that of non-AMI patients treated in the coronary care unit (CCU). The one-year incidence of coronary events (CE) after discharge from CCU was 37% in the 51 AMI patients and 20% in the 81 non-AMI patients. The one-year mortality rates were 27 and 4%, respectively. Among the non-AMI patients, well known risk factors such as hypertension, previous AMI, congestive heart failure, smoking, diabetes and hyperlipaemia were not more common in those who developed a CE. ST segment depression and T wave inversion, each of at least 0.1 mV, in three or more ECG leads were selective criteria for a high-risk group with respect to CE. Preventive measures should be considered in this group of patients without verified AMI.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk