Long-Term Prognosis Related to Coronary Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Angiographic Findings in the Elderly

In order to clarify the characteristics of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly, we investigated the clinical profile and long-term prognosis of patients with myocardial infarction in the past 13 years. The early fatality rate (within 30 days after onset) in the relatively younger patients (65 years old) was 29.1%. The fatality rate was significantly higher in older than in younger patients. On coronary and left ventriculography, the older patients showed multi-vessel lesions with decreased ejection fraction and cardiac index. According to the cumulative survival curves related to the coronary risk factors, no significant differences were found with or without smoking or hypertension. However, the long-term prognosis of the patients with controllable hypercholesteremia was better than in uncontrollable patients less than 65 years old. No significant difference was found in patients with hypercholesteremia over age 65. The long-term prognosis of the patients with uncontrollable diabetes mellitus was worse than that of controllable diabetic patients.