Prognosis in Coronary Care Unit Noninfarction Cases
- Mario G. Lopes, MD;
- Alfred P. Spivack, MD;
- Donald C. Harrison, MD;
- John S. Schroeder, MD
Abstract
An average 17.9-month follow-up was obtained on 169 patients with chest pain who were admitted to the Stanford University Hospital coronary care unit to rule out a myocardial infarction. Criteria for study included electrocardiographic ST-T abnormalities in the absence of infarction as evidenced by lack of new Q waves or serial enzyme determinations.
A high incidence of subsequent cardiac death following discharge from the coronary care unit was noted, with 4.2% one-month, 10.1% one-year, and 19.7% two-year mortality with 43% of the deaths occurring suddenly. More aggressive evaluation, treatment, and follow-up is indicated in this patient group.
(JAMA 228:1558-1562, 1974)
Footnotes
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Reprint requests to Cardiology Division, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA 94305 (Dr. Schroeder).
