title: Ten-year mortality among patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction in relation to early diagnosis.
abstract: Previous studies have compared the outcome between patients with and without a confirmed acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mainly during the first few years after its onset. Our aim was to compare the prognosis between patients with and without a confirmed AMI during 10 years of follow-up. Patients participating in an early intervention trial with metoprolol in suspected AMI between 1976 and 1981 took part in this evaluation. The total 10-year mortality rate including hospital mortality was 51% for patients with confirmed AMI as compared with 32% for patients with a possible AMI and 23% for patients in whom AMI was definitely ruled out (p < 0.001). The 10-year mortality after discharge from hospital was in AMI 46%, possible AMI 32% and in definitely ruled out AMI 23% (p < 0.001). When simultaneously considering age, sex, previous history of cardiovascular disease and smoking, the development of AMI appeared as an independent predictor of death (p < 0.001). Thus, among patients hospitalized due to suspected AMI, 10-year mortality after discharge from hospital was directly related to the diagnosis during the first 3 days in hospital.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Sahlgren's Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herlitz
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Karlson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hjalmarson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D008790:Metoprolol