Prognosis and functional capacity a year after a myocardial infarction on elderly 80-year-old patients

Objective

To evaluate prognosis and functional capacity a year after a myocardial infarction (MI) in elderly 80-year-old patients. To analyse differences between sex, localization and developed or no Q wave.

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Patients

All patients of ≥ 80 years admitted between 1.1.94 and 31.10.97 with a myocardial infarction.

Evaluation of evolution curve

The study was done through telephonic interview. We analysed mortality at the reception (REC), 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (M). Was used a daily activity scale (DAS) with five factors (walking, dressing, bathing, cleaning and eating) with a punctuation from 0 to 2 every activity (0 = total dependence, 1 = partial dependence and 2 = independence), with a range 0 to 10.

Statistical analysis

The statistical significance of the variables was tested by Fisher's test of t Student test. Values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

We included 112 patients, 54 (48.21%) male and 58 female. The localization of the myocardial infarction was anterior (Anter) in 71 cases (63.39%) and inferior (Infer) in 41, and 87 patients (77.67%) developed Q wave. At the reception 41 (36.60%) patients dead and 16 patients dead at the following 12 months (accumulated mortality at year = 50.89%). Q wave and anterior myocardial infarction had more mortality, with P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively. At year, the survivors had a mean DAS 8.72 ± 1.89. It was higher in non-Q wave (P < 0.05) and males (P < 0.05).

The evolution is shown in the Table.

Conclusion

Though the mortality between elderly 80 years old patients with myocardial infarction is high, they have an acceptable functional capacity (more in males and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction).

Table 1 Statistical analysis