The Prognosis for Patients Admitted to a Coronary Care Unit due to Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction with and without Confirmed Diagnosis

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Abstract
In a retrospective study the incidence of AMI [acute myocardial infarction] and death after discharge from CCU [coronary care unit] was recorded in 67 patients with and 93 without a diagnosis of AMI confirmed in the CCU. No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups in mortality rate during the first 3 yr, 18.3% (non-AMI) and 22.4% (AMI), or in cardiac events, sudden death and AMI, 19.3% (non-AMI) and 24.9% (AMI), during the first 2 yr after discharge. Non-AMI patients with either previous AMI, angina pectoris or ST-T abnormalities in the ECG accounted for the major part of cardiac events in this group. The mortality rates in the 2 groups, compared to a normal population matched for sex and age, were in the AMI group in the 1st yr 13.4 and 2.6% (P < 0.01), in the 2nd yr 3.4 and 2.8% (P > 0.05) and in the 3rd yr 7.1 and 2.9% (P > 0.05); and in the non-AMI group in the 1st yr 11.8 and 1.8% (P < 0.01), in the second year 3.7 and 2.0% (P < 0.05), in the 3rd yr 3.8 and 2.1% (P < 0.05). Apparently, the prognosis after discharge from the CCU is as unfavorable for patients without as for patients with AMI. The mortality is highest during the first 6-12 mo. after discharge.