title: [In-hospital evolution and current prognosis of unstable angina].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognosis of patients with unstable angina has improved in recent years resulting in a progressive reduction in hospital stay and treatment. The aim of this study was to know the current prognosis of patients with unstable angina in a non-selected population followed for up to 3 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  478 consecutive patients with unstable angina were studied. They were treated following a strict protocol and a management policy guided by symptoms and the results of an exercise test or a pharmacological stress test performed before hospital discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 66 +/- 11 years with 30% being females. Thirty-five percent had a prior history of myocardial infarction, 61% presented ischemic changes on the admission ECG, and 16% had elevation of the CK-MB plasma levels. An echocardiogram was performed in 80% of the patients, a stress test in 62%, coronary angiography in 51%, and a revascularization procedure in 27% of the patients. During hospitalization, the incidence of mortality or myocardial infarction, refractory angina or ischemic complications was of 3.6%, 11% and 13%, respectively. After hospital discharge and during a 3-month follow-up, the incidence of these complications was of 3.3%, 9% and 10% (NS compared to the in-hospital period). Overall, from the time of hospital admission to the 3-month follow-up, 4.2% of the patients died, 7% died or had an infarction, 20% had refractory angina, and 26% had some ischemic complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The in-hospital prognosis of unstable angina is currently good. However, patients discharged from hospital after stabilization, present an important number of ischemic complications during the following 3 months, similar to that presented by all patients during the acute phase.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Malalties Cardiovasculars, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques Agustí Pi i Sunyer Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sionis Green
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miranda-Guardiola
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anguera
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitges
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díez-Aja
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Betriu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis