Predictors of clinical course, coronary anatomy and left ventricular function after recovery from acute myocardial infarction.

Patients who survive an acute myocardiac infarction (AMI) have significant coronary disease and are at risk for angina pectoris, recurrent myocardiac infarction and sudden death. This study provides data gathered prospectively for 106 patients surviving myocardial infarction who had coronary arteriography, left ventriculography and 24-hour electrocadiographic recordings before hospital discharge and were followed 30 months. Univariate analysis showed that low ejection fraction, proximal left anterior descending coronary disease and significant disease in all three coronary arteries were associated with a high risk of sudden cardial death. The ECG location or type of infarction was not helpful in predicting mortality, reinfarction or continuing angina. Multivariate analysis of 30 clinical and laboratory variables identified previous myocardial infarction and an ejection fraction less than 40% as the best predictors of mortality; all 13 patients who died were identified by these two variables. Three-vessel ...