Development and evolution of electrocardiographic Minnesota Q-QS codes in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The development of ECG Minnesota Q-QS codes and their subsequent evolution were studied in the first 692 subjects to enter the POSCH program who had had one MI. The mean interval from MI to entry into the study was 2.2 years. Sixty-three percent of the subjects developed the most significant code with the infarction. By the time the subjects entered the study, the codes had commonly regressed to a lower level, disappearing altogether in 34%. The likelihood of complete regression varied inversely with the significance of the code. There was no significant difference between the groups with disappearance and with retention of a Q-QS code as to time since MI, the extent of coronary arterial disease, or the age or sex of the subject. In about half of the subjects the original code did not change with time and in 21% to 44% the code increased to one of a higher level of significance.