Improved prognosis since 1969 of myocardial infarction treated in a coronary care unit: lack of relation with changes in severity.

OBJECTIVE--To study changes from 1969 to 1983 in the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated in a coronary care unit. DESIGN--Mortality follow up of all patients with definite acute myocardial infarction. SETTING--The coronary care unit of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, a tertiary referral centre. SUBJECTS--4253 Patients (3366 men, 887 women) admitted from 1969 to 1983. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Mortality recorded at discharge from hospital and 12 months after admission. RESULTS--Details of clinical findings, history, electrocardiograms, arrhythmias, and radiological findings were recorded on admission. Mean ages were 63 for women and 57 for men, and women had haemodynamically more severe infarcts than men. In the later years patients were older and had less severe infarcts. Overall, hospital mortality in men was 16.7% in 1969-73 and 8.5% in 1979-83 and declined in all grades of the Norris and Killip infarct severity indices compared with a constant 19.2% in women. Even after adjustment for age and severity by logistic regression, hospital mortality fell in men by an average of 8% (95% confidence interval 4% to 11%) a year but remained constant in women. By 1983 male mortality was 60% that of women of similar age and comparable severity of infarction. Mortality of hospital survivors at 12 months declined by 7% (4% to 9%) a year in both sexes, even after adjustment for age and severity, with a male to female mortality ratio of about 0.8. New indices were derived to predict mortality in hospital and at 12 months. CONCLUSION--The observed declines in mortality cannot be explained by changes in severity of infarction or in prognostic characteristics of patients.     

Specific and gender differences between hospitalized and out of hospital mortality due to myocardial infarction

In this paper, the authors evaluate gender related differences of myocardial infarction mortality before and after hospital admittance. Myocardial infarction mortality in the Clinical Hospital Split in the seven years period between 2000 and 2006, have been analyzed together with out of hospital sudden death patients with acute myocardial infarction established during autopsy. During the seven year period between 2000 and 2006, 3434 patients were treated for myocardial infarction in the Split Clinical Hospital, 2336 (68%) males and 1098 (32%) females with a 12% total mortality (427 patients). The annual number of hospitalized persons has been increasing during that period (474 in yr. 2000 us. 547 in yr. 2006), while mortality decreased from 15% in 2000 to 9.6% in 2006. Female patients had significantly higher hospital mortality than male patients, (228 or 21% vs. 202 or 9%, p<0.05). Women also had significantly higher total AMI mortality (23.7% vs. 15,7%, p <0.05). Anterior myocardial infarction with ST elevation in precordial leads had significantly higher mortality (19%) compared to patients with lateral (11%), inferior (10%) myocardial infarction with ST elevation and also NSTEMI (4%) mortality p<0.05. Female patients more frequently die in hospital, 84% (230) than out of hospital 16% (43). From the total number of AMI deaths (388) in male patients, 56% (217) were in hospital and 44% (171) out of hospital (p<0.001). Men had significantly higher prehospital mortality rate than women (81% vs. 19%, p<0.05). Men also more frequently died from ventricular fibrillation (22% vs. 10%, p<0.05), while women died more frequently of heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and myocardial rupture (33% vs. 15% p<0.05). Regarding the total number of deaths from myocardial infarction men had significantly higher prehospital mortality compared to women (178 or 7.3% vs. 43 or 3.7%, p<0.05). Anterior myocardial infarction had a significantly higher rate in patients dying pre-hospital (58%), in contrast to inferior (36%) and lateral myocardial infarction with ST elevation (6%) p<0.05. We have concluded that male patients die more frequently within the first few hours of AMI mostly due to malignant arrhythmias, while female patients died in sub acute stage due to heart failure while being hospitalized. Nevertheless total mortality of AMI remains significantly higher in women.     

Mortality rate in subsequent years following myocardial infarction]

Eight hundred out of 997 patients with myocardial infarction hospitalized at cardiological ward in Kielce in 1977-1985 survived. Seven hundred seventy one patients were followed up for 2-10 years. Basing on the obtained results, tables of the mortality rates and probability of survival depending on sex, age, and classification into appropriate prognosis group have been prepared. The highest mortality rate (9.6%) was seen in the first year following myocardial infarction. Mean annual mortality rate in this group was 6% during 10 years of the follow up. Mortality rate in women with myocardial infarction was significantly lower than in men during 10 years of the follow up.     

Prognosis after myocardial infarction: results of 15 year follow up.

A total of 271 out of 757 patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction during 1966-7 were still alive after six years; these patients were subsequently followed up 15 years after the infarction. Two hundred and sixty eight (99%) of the patients alive at six years and 519 (95%) of the 549 originally discharged from hospital were traced. A coronary prognostic index, which had predicted survival both to three years and from three to six years after recovery from the infarct also predicted survival from six to 15 years after recovery. The major factor affecting survival to 15 years was age at the time of the original infarct. Among patients aged under 60 at the time of infarction women fared better than men (p = 0.027). Factors in the coronary prognostic index that were associated with impairment of left ventricular function at the time of infarction and that had predicted mortality to three years and from three to six years also predicted mortality from six to 15 years. These factors were cardiac enlargement, pulmonary venous congestion, and the presence of infarction before the index infarct. The dominant cause of death remained coronary heart disease and its complications.     

Ten year mortality in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the 10 year mortality in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Follow up of all patients below 76 years of age admitted with acute chest pain to 16 coronary care units participating in the Danish verapamil infarction trial in 1979-81. SUBJECTS--Of the 5993 patients included, 2586 had definite infarction, 402 had probable infarction, and 3005 did not have infarction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Death and cause of death. Standardised mortality ratio (observed mortality/expected mortality in background population). RESULTS--The estimated 10 year mortalities were 58.8%, 55.5%, and 42.8% in patients with definite, probable, and no infarction, respectively (P < 0.0001). Stratified Cox''s analysis identified a hazard ratio for mortality of 1.25 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.44) for probable infarction compared with no infarction and of 1.15 (1.00 to 1.32) for definite compared with probable infarction. The standardised mortality ratio in the first year was 7.1 (6.5 to 7.8) for definite infarction, 5.0 (3.6 to 6.3) for probable infarction, and 4.7 (4.2 to 5.2) for no infarction. From the second year and onwards the annual standardised mortality ratio in the three groups did not differ significantly. Cardiac causes of deaths were recorded in 89%, 84%, and 71% of the deaths in patients with definite, probable, and no infarction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS--The 10 year mortality of patients with and without infarction is significantly higher than in the background population. Most deaths are caused by coronary heart disease, and these patients should consequently be further evaluated at the time of discharge and followed up closely.     

Myocardial Infarction: A Five-Year Follow-up of Patients

Patients with acute myocardial infarction (2,020) admitted to coronary care units (CCU) in Utah were studied for five years. Of these, 1,641 (81.4 percent) survived to leave the hospital. The male to female ratio was 3.5:1. At four months, one year and yearly thereafter from the date of admission to CCU, patients were mailed follow-up questionnaires. Cause of death was obtained from autopsy reports and death certificates. Patients were grouped yearly by the number of cardiac symptoms reported. Of patients discharged whose cases were followed, 925 (61.9 percent) were alive after five years. Reinfarction was the major cause of death in the hospital; however, during follow-up only 36.8 percent of deaths were attributable to myocardial infarction. At follow-up after a year, fewer cardiac symptoms were reported by patients who survived to the fifth year of follow-up than by patients who did not. Women were older and showed a higher death rate during follow-up. Increasing age was found to be a determining factor in long-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction.     

Tobacco and myocardial infarction: is snuff less dangerous than cigarettes?

OBJECTIVE--To estimate the risk of myocardial infarction in snuff users, cigarette smokers, and non-tobacco users in northern Sweden, where using snuff is traditional. DESIGN--Case-control study. SETTING--Northern Sweden. SUBJECTS--All 35-64 year old men who had had a first myocardial infarction and a population based sample of 35-64 year old men who had not had an infarction in the same geographical area. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Tobacco consumption (regular snuff dipping, regular cigarette smoking, non-tobacco use) and risk of acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS--59 of 585 (10%) patients who had a first myocardial infarction and 87 of 589 (15%) randomly selected men without myocardial infarction were non-smokers who used snuff daily. The age adjusted odds ratio for myocardial infarction was 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.62 to 1.29) for exposure to snuff and 1.87 (1.40 to 2.48) for cigarette smoking compared with non-tobacco users, showing an increased risk in smokers but not in snuff dippers. Regular cigarette smokers had a significantly higher risk of myocardial infarction than regular snuff dippers (age adjusted odds ratio 2.09; 1.39 to 3.15). Smoking, but not snuff dipping, predicted myocardial infarction in a multiple logistic regression model that included age and level of education. CONCLUSIONS--In middle aged men snuff dipping is associated with a lower risk of myocardial infarction than cigarette smoking.     

Influence of oral magnesium supplementation on cardiac events among survivors of an acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate the effect of long term oral magnesium treatment on incidence of cardiac events among survivors of an acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Double blind, placebo controlled parallel study in which patients were randomised to treatment or placebo. SETTING--Two coronary care units and corresponding outpatient clinics. SUBJECTS--468 survivors of an acute myocardial infarction (289 men and 178 women) aged 31-92. INTERVENTIONS--One tablet of 15 mmol magnesium hydroxide or placebo daily for one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Incidences of reinfarction, sudden death, and coronary artery bypass grafting in one year. RESULTS--There was no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups in the incidence of each of the three cardiac events, but when the events were combined and drop outs were excluded from calculations there was a significantly higher incidence of events in the treatment group (56/167 v 33/153; relative risk 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.07 to 2.25); p = 0.02). When the timing of events was incorporated by means of a Kaplan-Meier plot the treatment group showed a significantly higher incidence of events whether drop outs were included or excluded (p < 0.025). CONCLUSION--Long term oral treatment with 15 mmol magnesium daily doses not reduce the incidence of cardiac events in survivors of an acute myocardial infarction and, indeed, seems to increase the risk of developing a cardiac event. Consequently, this treatment cannot be recommended as secondary prophylaxis for such patients.     

Acute myocardial infarction in women: survival analysis in first six months.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the influence that being female has on the outcome of acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN--Observational follow up study. SETTING--London district general hospital. PATIENTS--216 women and 607 men with acute myocardial infarction admitted to a coronary care unit from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--All cause mortality and recurrent ischaemic events in the first six months. RESULTS--Event free survival (95% confidence interval) at six months was 63.3% (56.3% to 69.4%) in women and 76.1% (72.4% to 79.4%) in men, P < 0.001. The difference was confined to the first 30 days but thereafter the hazard plots for women and men converged, with reduction of the hazard ratio from 2.36 (1.70 to 3.27) to 0.81 (0.44 to 1.48). Women were older, but their excess risk persisted after adjustment for age, other baseline variables, and indices of severity of infarction (hazard ratio 1.53 (1.09 to 2.15), P = 0.015). Women tended to be treated with thrombolysis less commonly than men but the difference was small. Substantially fewer women than men, however, were discharged taking beta blockers (23.3% v 41.4%, P < 0.001), and although additional adjustment for discharge treatment did not further reduce the point estimate of the hazard ratio (1.84 (0.89-3.83)), the 95% confidence interval was wide and statistical significance was lost. CONCLUSIONS--Women with acute myocardial infarction have a worse prognosis than men but the excess risk is confined to the first 30 days and is only partly explained by age and other baseline variables. The tendency for women to receive less vigorous treatment than men must be remedied before gender can be considered to be an independent determinant of risk.     

Calcium channel blockers in acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina: an overview.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the effects of calcium channel blockers on development of infarcts, reinfarction, and mortality. DESIGN--A systematic overview of all randomised trials of calcium channel blockers in myocardial infarction and unstable angina. PATIENTS--19,000 Patients in 28 randomised trials. RESULTS--In the trials of myocardial infarction 873 deaths occurred among 8870 patients randomised to active treatment compared with 825 deaths among 8889 control patients (odds ratio of 1.06, 95% confidence interval of 0.96 to 1.18). There was no evidence of a beneficial effect on development and size of infarcts or rate of reinfarction. The results were similar in short term trials in which treatment was confined to the acute phase and those in which treatment was started some weeks later and continued for a year or two. There was no evidence of heterogeneity among different calcium channel blockers in their effects on any end point. The results were similar in the unstable angina trials (110 out of 561 patients treated with calcium channel blocker compared with 104 out of 548 controls developed a myocardial infarction; 14 out of 591 treated compared with nine out of 578 controls died). CONCLUSIONS--Calcium channel blockers do not reduce the risk of initial or recurrent infarction or death when given routinely to patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina.     

Management of patients after their first myocardial infarction.

In the past 20 years there has been a steady improvement in the short term prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction, following the introduction of beta blockers, thrombolysis, and aspirin. Patients treated with thrombolytic drugs have a lower overall mortality after myocardial infarction but remain at risk of non-fatal reinfarction or death, and in one study almost half of all survivors of acute myocardial infarction died or suffered a further ischaemic event within three years. It is therefore important to have a strategy to identify patients at high risk, to reduce the subsequent development of cardiac failure and mortality, and to have effective measures for secondary prevention to reduce the incidence of reinfarction as well as to promote rehabilitation.     

Sex differences in case fatality before and after admission to hospital after acute cardiac events: analysis of community based coronary heart disease register.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the reported higher case fatality in hospital after an acute cardiac event in women can be explained by sex differences in mortality before admission and in baseline risk factors. DESIGN: Analyses of data from a community based coronary heart disease register. SETTING: Auckland region, New Zealand. SUBJECTS: 5106 patients aged 25-64 years with an acute cardiac event leading to coronary death or definite myocardial infarction within 28 days of onset, occurring between 1986 and 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Case fatality before admission, 28 day case fatality for patients in hospital, and total case fatality after an acute cardiac event. RESULTS: Despite a more unfavourable risk profile women tended to have lower case fatality before admission than men (crude odds ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 1.02). Adjustment for age, living arrangements, smoking, medical history, and treatment increased the effect of sex (0.72; 0.60 to 0.86). After admission to hospital, women had a higher case fatality than men (1.76; 1.43 to 2.17), but after adjustment for confounders this was reduced to 1.18 (0.89 to 1.58). Total case fatality 28 days after an acute cardiac event showed no significant difference between men and women (0.85; 0.70 to 1.02) CONCLUSIONS: The higher case fatality after an acute cardiac event in women admitted to hospital is largely explained by differences in living status, history, and medical treatment and is balanced by a lower case fatality before admission.     

Body weight and risk of myocardial infarction and death in the adult population of eastern Finland.

Body mass index (weight (kg) divided by height squared (m2] and its association with the risk of myocardial infarction and death from all causes were studied prospectively in a randomly selected population sample in eastern Finland aged 30-59 at outset in 1972. The study population consisted of 3786 men and 4120 women. The participation rate in the survey in 1972 was over 90%. All deaths and admissions to hospital in the sample were obtained from the National Death Certificate and Hospital Discharge Registers. During the seven years of follow up until 1978, 170 men and 52 women had acute myocardial infarction, and during the nine years up to 1980, 223 men and 92 women died. Independent of age, men with a body mass index of 28.5 or more had a significantly higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction. This effect was also independent of smoking but not independent of biological coronary risk factors--that is, serum cholesterol concentration and blood pressure. In the analysis stratified for smoking in men the body mass index total mortality curve was J shaped among non-smokers, whereas smoking entirely outweighed body mass index as a predictor of death. Body mass index did not contribute significantly to the risk of either acute myocardial infarction or death in women. It is concluded that a body mass index of around 29.0-31.0 or more is not only a marker for coronary risk factors but is also a predictor of acute myocardial infarction in men.     

Survival of 1476 patients initially resuscitated from out of hospital cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES--To determine the short and long term outcome of patients admitted to hospital after initially successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest out of hospital. DESIGN--Review of ambulance and hospital records. Follow up of mortality by "flagging" with the registrar general. Cox proportional hazards analysis of predictors of mortality in patients discharged alive from hospital. SETTING--Scottish Ambulance Service and acute hospitals throughout Scotland. SUBJECTS--1476 patients admitted to a hospital ward, of whom 680 (46%) were discharged alive. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Survival to hospital discharge, neurological status at discharge, time to death, and cause of death after discharge. RESULTS--The median duration of hospital stay was 10 days (interquartile range 8-15) in patients discharged alive and 1 (1-4) day in those dying in hospital. Neurological status at discharge in survivors was normal or mildly impaired in 605 (89%), moderately impaired in 58 (8.5%), and severely impaired in 13 (2%); one patient was comatose. Direct discharge to home occurred in 622 (91%) cases. The 680 discharged survivors were followed up for a median of 25 (range 0-68) months. There were 176 deaths, of which 81 were sudden cardiac deaths, 55 were non-sudden cardiac deaths, and 40 were due to other causes. The product limit estimate of 4 year survival after discharge was 68%. The independent predictors of mortality on follow up were increased age, treatment for heart failure, and cardiac arrest not due to definite myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION--About 40% of initial survivors of resuscitation out of hospital are discharged home without major neurological disability. Patients at high risk of subsequent cardiac death can be identified and may benefit from further cardiological evaluation.     

Interaction of 0.1-Hz oscillations in heart rate variability and distal blood flow variability

Biophysical features of 0.1-Hz oscillations of heart rate variability (HRV) and distal blood flow (DBF) variability were compared in healthy subjects and patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with acute MI (72 men and 53 women; 125 in total) and healthy subjects (23 men and 10 women; 33 in total) aged 30?C83 and 20?C46 years, respectively, participated in the study. The patients were involved in the study for a year after acute MI. The delay in coupling 0.1-Hz oscillations of HRV and DBF variability was estimated. In healthy subjects, the delay in the heart ?? DBF coupling proved to be less than the delay in the DBF ?? heart coupling. Acute MI results mainly in disruption of the heart ?? DBF coupling, which is partially restored by the end of the first year after acute MI, though it remains lower than in healthy subjects. The DBF ?? heart coupling is rapidly restored to the level of healthy subjects within three weeks after acute MI.     

Likelihood and Predictors of ST-Elevation in Patients Hospitalized for Myocardial Infarction

Importance

Emergency treatment options in myocardial infarction are guided by presence or absence of ST-elevations in electrocardiography. Occurrence and factors associated with ST-presentation in different population groups are however inadequately known.

Objective

To determine likelihood and patient features associated with ST-elevations in myocardial infarction.

Design

Nationwide registry study including 22 hospitals with angiolaboratory during an eight year period in Finland.

Setting

Hospitalized care.

Participants

68,162 consecutive patients aged ≥30 with myocardial infarction.

Measures

Likelihood and patient features associated with presence of ST-elevations.

Results

Myocardial infarction presented with ST-elevation in 37.5% (CI 37.0–37.9%) and without in 62.5% (CI 61.9–63.1%) of patients, p<0.0001. Majority of patients aged 30–59 years with myocardial infarction had ST-elevation, but among octogenarians ST-elevations were present in only 24.7%. Presence of ST-elevations decreased with age by estimated 15.6% (CI 15.0–16.2%) per 10 year increase (p<0.0001). Men aged 40–79 years had significantly higher rate for ST-elevation myocardial infarction compared to women. Sex-based difference in presentation of myocardial infarction declined with increasing age. Overall, men had a 13% (CI 11–15%, p<0.0001) higher relative risk for ST-elevations compared to women when adjusted for age and co-morbidities. Diabetes, atrial fibrillation, peripheral or cerebral artery disease, chronic pulmonary disease, malignancy, and renal insufficiency were associated with absence of ST-elevations in myocardial infarction in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions and Relevance

Myocardial infarction presents with ST-elevations more commonly in men. Presence of ST-elevations decreases with increasing age. Diabetes, atrial fibrillation, peripheral or cerebral artery disease, chronic pulmonary disease, malignancy, and renal insufficiency are associated with absence of ST-elevations in myocardial infarction. These findings may help to predict likelihood of ST-elevations in a patient with myocardial infarction.     

Inpatient deaths from acute myocardial infarction, 1982-92: analysis of data in the Nottingham heart attack register.

OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinal trends in admissions, management, and inpatient mortality from acute myocardial infarction over 10 years. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis based on the Nottingham heart attack register. SETTING: Two district general hospitals serving a defined urban and rural population. SUBJECTS: All patients admitted with a confirmed acute myocardial infarction during 1982-4 and 1989-92 (excluding 1991, when data were not collected). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of patients, background characteristics, time from onset of symptoms to admission, ward of admission, treatment, and inpatient mortality. RESULTS: Admissions with acute myocardial infarction increased from 719 cases in 1982 to 960 in 1992. The mean age increased from 62.1 years to 66.6 years (P < 0.001), the duration of stay fell from 8.7 days to 7.2 days (P < 0.001), and the proportion of patients aged 75 years and over admitted to a coronary care unit increased significantly from 29.1% to 61.2%. A higher proportion of patients were admitted to hospital within 6 hours of onset of their symptoms in 1989-92 than in 1982-4, but 15% were still admitted after the time window for thrombolysis. Use of beta blockers increased threefold between 1982 and 1992, aspirin was used in over 70% of patients after 1989, and thrombolytic use increased 1.3-fold between 1989 and 1992. Age and sex adjusted odds ratios for inpatient mortality remained unchanged over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increasing uptake of the "proved" treatments, inpatient mortality from myocardial infarction did not change between 1982 and 1992.     

Do women with acute myocardial infarction receive the same treatment as men?

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether women with acute myocardial infarction in the Nottingham health district receive the same therapeutic interventions as their male counterparts. DESIGN--Retrospective study. SETTING--University and City Hospitals, Nottingham. PATIENTS--All patients admitted with a suspected myocardial infarction during 1989 and 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Route and timing of admission to hospital, ward of admission, treatment, interventions in hospital, and mortality. RESULTS--Women with myocardial infarction took longer to arrive in hospital than men. They were less likely to be admitted to the coronary care unit and were therefore also less likely to receive thrombolytic treatment. They seemed to have more severe infarcts, with higher Killip classes, and had a slightly higher mortality during admission. They were less likely than men to receive secondary prophylaxis by being discharged taking beta blockers or aspirin. CONCLUSIONS--Survival chances both in hospital and after discharge in women with acute myocardial infarction are reduced because they do not have the same opportunity for therapeutic intervention as men.     

Metabolic syndrome X--high risk factor for acute myocardial infarction and its complications

Metabolic Syndrome X is a clinical entity which comprises the following factors: diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, high levels of triglyceride and/or low levels of HDL cholesterol, central obesity and microalbuminuria (by WHO criteria). The first goal of this study was to determine the frequency of the Metabolic Syndrome X (MSX) in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared with the general population. The second goal of the study was to examine the frequency of heart failure and reinfarction rate in the patients with myocardial infarction, with and without MSX. Furthermore, the relationship between gender and MSX was analyzed. A total of 101 patients with acute myocardial infarction took part in randomized trial (32 women and 69 men). MSX and all of its components were diagnosed according to WHO criteria. To determine statistical significance of our results, we used chi2 test and t-test for independent samples. From 101 patient 48 had MSX (47.52%), while in the general population incidence of MSX is 3-4%. The reinfarction and the heart failure rate were significantly higher in the group of patients with MSX (p = 0.0067 and p = 0.0217, respectively). To conclude, the results of the present study confirm that MSX is a high risk factor for myocardial infarction and its complications.     

Left ventricular aneurysm: Twenty-year surgical experience with 1572 patients at the Texas Heart Institute

From January 1958 through December 1979, 1572 patients underwent surgery for left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) in our institution. The series included 1365 men and 207 women, with a ratio of 6.5:1. Ages ranged from 25 to 79 years, with a mean of 54.7 years. Most patients were in NYHA functional Class III or IV, and all had sustained at least one documented myocardial infarction. During the first decade, LVA resection alone was performed, but after the advent of aortocoronary bypass (ACB) surgery, the majority of patients underwent ACB along with LVA resection. Some required additional septoplasty, mitral valve replacement, annuloplasty, or aortic valve replacement. In all groups, the mortality was higher for women than for men. Early deaths were due primarily to acute or progressive myocardial failure secondary to recurrent myocardial infarction. Follow-up information for 6 months to 8 years was obtained by means of questionnaires submitted to patients and referring physicians. Of 475 patients who underwent LVA resection and ACB and who responded, 92.2% were either improved or asymptomatic.