The long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction: a five year follow-up study

A five year follow-up study was done on about 1200 patients discharged from hospital after an acute myocardial infarction. With different statistical methods the long-term prognosis was estimated. With multivariate analyses it was possible to find variables with high prognostic significance for increased mortality. Variables of importance were age, previous myocardial infarction, left heart failure, maximum heart rate, atrial fibrillation, maximum value of S-GOT and heart volume. A logistic function was used to estimate the risk of dying for every patient and a division into decile classes after an increasing risk was made. The three most predictive variables from the logistic function were used in an isownic model. Highrisk groups consisted of patients with signs of left heart failure with two or more previous myocardial infarction.