title: Ineligibility for predischarge exercise testing after myocardial infarction in the elderly: implications for prognosis.
abstract: This study describes the clinical profile and prognosis of elderly patients not eligible for predischarge exercise testing. The database consisted of 133 patients 55-64 years of age, and 111 patients older than 64 years of age who survived an acute myocardial infarction. Follow-up was one year. In the younger age group, 24 (18%) patients were unable to perform the test, in contrast to 63 (57%) of the elderly subjects. In these two groups, one-year mortality rates were 13% and 37%, compared with 6% and 4% for the respective patients eligible for stress testing. Clinical profile and radionuclide ejection fraction between ineligible patients in both age groups were similar. Ejection fraction measurement was the best predictor of late mortality in those patients who did not have an exercise test. It is concluded that ineligibility for predischarge exercise test identifies a high-risk group, especially in patients older than 64 years of age.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005080:Exercise Test; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012306:Risk; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013667:Technetium; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium