title: Can ECG changes predict the long-term outcome in patients admitted to hospital for suspected acute myocardial infarction?
abstract: 7,028 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction and discharged alive from hospital were followed in a 10-year community-based study. The long-term prognosis was relatively good if the electrocardiograms (ECGs) were normal (5-year all-cause death rate 5%), poor with uncodable ECGs showing rhythm or conduction disturbances (37%), and intermediate with new Q wave, new ST elevation, new T wave inversion or ischemic ECG (17-21%), and with new ST depression (27%). Similar patterns were found for ischemic cardiac death and reinfarction. The long-term prognosis of patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction is relatively good if the ECGs are normal and poor if ECGs are uncodable. ST depression may be a marker for a worse long-term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinlay
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Heller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D010343:Patient Admission; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D003402:Creatine Kinase