Short- and long- term prognosis after myocardial infarction

In 1971, altogether 266 acute coronary accidents in persons aged up to 65 years were recorded among the population of the City of Plzen. Of this number, 25% of men and 18% of women died during the prehospitalization phase. 203 persons were admitted to hospital: the development of their disease was followed up for three years in correlation with initial clinical and laboratory findings. Within these three years, the total mortality was 50% in men and 43% in women. Of the symptoms found within the first three days of hospitalization, the following ones appeared to be most significant prognostically: 1) sinus and ventricular arrhythmias, 2) congestive heart failure, 3) ECG changes, mainly pathological Q wave, left branch block, deeply negative T waves; 4) unfavourable for the three-years prognosis were histories of repetitive myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus; favourable for three-year prognosis were initial blood pressures 141--160/81--100 mmHg and heart rates 61--80/min. Such findings may serve for patients' classification for differentiated care in the postinfarction period.