[Secondary prevention of the basic risk factors in patients with a history of myocardial infarction]

160 patients under 60 years of age with a past myocardial infarction, proved clinically and electrocardiographically, were followed up for 3 years during which period a secondary prophylaxis of the basic risk factors was carried out. The smokers were 71.9% and 72.2% of them were over 46 years of age. 65.2% of the smokers gave up smoking after being advised by the authors to do so. Positive changes were found concerning the risk factors under observation in the patients--a statistically significant decrease of the arterial pressure and cholesterol serum level and a considerable increase of the tolerance to physical activity in the non-smokers and the smokers who had given up smoking. Reduction of the frequency of stenocardia attacks, extrasystoles, ST-depression as well as a reduction of the risk of another myocardial infarction were also established. The secondary prophylaxis carried out by the authors in their outpatient practice on patients with past myocardial infarction has proved its efficiency and ought to be recommended.