Acute myocardial infarction in a City Hospital: V. Follow-up study of one hundred thirty-one survivors ∗

Abstract

1. 1. A 5-year follow-up study of 131 survivors of acute myocardial infarction in a city hospital during a 1-year period is presented. 2. 2. The mortality rate was 28 per cent at 1 year and 49 per cent at 5 years. Seventy per cent of the deaths occurred in the hospital. Eighty-eight per cent of deaths were due to recurrent myocardial infarction and/or congestive heart failure. 3. 3. Pre-existing hypertension, angina pectoris, or congestive heart failure, location of the acute infarction or cardiomegaly during hospitalization, did not significantly affect the long range outcome. Previous myocardial infarctions adversely affected the 5-year survival rate of the acute infarction. 4. 4. Pre-existing angina pectoris was absent in one-fourth of cases 3 and 5 years after discharge, while pre-existing hypertension disappeared in one-half at 3 years and one-fourth at 5 years. 5. 5. Angina pectoris appeared for the first time in over half of the patients by 3 and 5 years after discharge. Hypertension was first noted in 25 per cent of patients at 3 years and 50 per cent at 5 years. 6. 6. Congestive heart failure was demonstrated objectively in 68 per cent of the cases at 3 years and 33 per cent at 5 years. 7. 7. Cardiomegaly was noted roentgenographically in 46 per cent at 3 years and 77 per cent at 5 years and was apparently associated with coronary artery disease alone in 8 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. 8. 8. The electrocardiogram revealed no evidence of infarction in 13 per cent at 3 years and 20 per cent at 5 years.