Ventricular premature complexes in prognosis of angina

Circulation
|June 1, 1980
PubMed

Insights

Ventricular premature complexes detected during electrocardiographic monitoring predict mortality risk in men with angina. This finding aids in assessing prognosis for patients without prior myocardial infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Electrophysiology
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Effort angina is a common condition requiring prognostic assessment.
  • Prior myocardial infarction significantly impacts long-term mortality.
  • The prognostic value of ventricular arrhythmias in angina patients without infarction history needs clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic significance of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) in men with effort angina.
  • To compare mortality risks between men with angina and those with prior myocardial infarction.
  • To identify independent predictors of mortality in angina patients.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective electrocardiographic monitoring of 416 men with effort angina.
  • Survival analysis over 5 years.
  • Multivariate regression to assess risk factors for all-cause and sudden coronary death.

Main Results:

  • VPCs during monitoring, ST-segment depression on standard ECG, and age were independent predictors of mortality in angina patients.
  • Men with angina had lower age-adjusted 5-year mortality than those with prior myocardial infarction.
  • Lower prevalence of myocardial dysfunction indicators (VPCs, ST depression) in angina group.

Conclusions:

  • VPCs detected during monitoring are a significant prognostic marker in men with effort angina.
  • These findings highlight the importance of electrophysiologic assessment in risk stratification for angina patients.
  • Angina patients without prior infarction exhibit a better prognosis, linked to reduced indicators of myocardial dysfunction.

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