[Factors in sudden and non-sudden death after myocardial infarction]

Attempts at preventing total and sudden cardiac death after myocardial infarction can only succeed if its mechanisms and its contributing of determinant factors are known. It is now well established that sudden deaths account for one-half of mortality cases and that in the vast majority of cases these deaths are due to malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Several sudden death risk factors have been identified, including ventricular dysrhythmias, left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial ischaemia. A number of therapeutic trials on the prevention of post-infarction death have been conducted, but so far only beta-blockers have proved effective in reducing the incidence of total and sudden cardiac death. It is permissible to think, however, that other, discerningly selected treatments might also be effective.