ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the clinic evolution during admission of a group of patients over age 70, who experienced acute myocardial infarction (AMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients, over age 70, with confirmed diagnosis of AMI, were studied. Thirty-six (70.6%) males and 15 (29.4%) females. RESULTS: Near half (49.1%) were admitted before four hours of beginning of pain. The complications were divided into mechanical, electrical, persistent ischemia and others, not related with coronary heart disease. In the coronary care unit (CCU), 84.3% of patients complicated, and 50.0% at the ward. AMI of the anterior wall complicated more frequently with tachiarrhythmia, and inferior wall with atrioventricular block. There were not statistical difference in the incidence of mechanical complications, according to the affected wall. There was statistical significance (p less than 0.05) comparing mortality and the time elapsed between beginning of pain and hospital admission, but not comparing mortality and the wall involved. The patients with congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock died in 93.3%. Mortality at the CCU was mostly related to complications of AMI, but mortality at ward to other complications not directly related with coronary heart disease. CONCLUSION: Myocardial infarction over age 70 implies high mortality and morbidity, with significantly, better prognosis with earlier arrival of the patient to the hospital.
