Relationship between electrocardiographically estimated infarct size and morbidity during a two-year follow-up.
In 587 patients with a first myocardial infarction (MI) the electrocardiographically (ECG) estimated infarct size was related to morbidity during a two-year follow-up. Patients with transmural MI (Q- or R-wave changes in standard ECG) were more often treated for heart failure and returned to work less frequently than patients with subendocardial MI (ST-T-wave changes only). There were trends indicating a higher reinfarction rate in patients with subendocardial MI, whereas angina pectoris was observed as frequently in both groups. In a subset of patients with anterior MI, infarct size was estimated from the total Q- and R-wave amplitude in 24 precordial leads 4 days after arrival in hospital. A positive relationship was observed between ECG-estimated infarct size and treatment for heart failure, and patients with smaller infarctions according to ECG criteria returned to work less frequently. A higher reinfarction rate was observed in patients with smaller infarctions. In patients with inferior MI there were mostly weaker correlations between ECG-estimated infarct size (Q- and R-wave changes in leads II, III, and a VF) and morbidity during the two-year follow-up.
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000473:pathology; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D005665:Furosemide