Exercise test in patients over 65 years of age after the first myocardial infarction.
In 171 patients a submaximal exercise test was performed 3-6 weeks after the first acute myocardial infarction. No complications in connection with exercise test were observed. The incidence of ST/T-segment changes was significantly higher in patients over age 50. Patients over age 60 have a significantly higher incidence of PVCs as well as complex ventricular arrhythmias. In this patient group the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias was higher in patients with ST/T-segment changes during exercise. In the younger patients there was no correlation between incidence of ST/T-segment changes and arrhythmias. A high percentage of patients with no arrhythmias during exercise also had no arrhythmias during Holter. During follow up the average mortality rate was 3.6% and was not significantly different in the four age groups.
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012306:Risk