RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the number and duration of the episodes of silent myocardial ischemia increase with aging of patients. METHODS: A Holter monitoring, with CardioData equipment, was made in 1,300 patients and 330 with proven significant coronary obstructions were selected for this study. The anti-anginal medication was maintained during the 24 or 48 hours of Holter recording. The patients were arbitrarily divided into four groups according to age less than 50 years, 50 to 59 years, 60 to 69 years and greater than or equal to 70 years old. The statistical analysis was made with two models, the model of logistic regression and the Poisson model. RESULTS: Myocardia ischemia was detected in 72 patients (21.8%), 55 (76%) had only silent episodes, 6 (9%) had only anginal ischemia and 11 patients (155) had both silent and anginal ischemia. There was a progressive increase in the number and duration of the episodes of myocardial ischemia with aging. The proportion of patients with episodes of myocardial ischemia in the 4 age groups was 12.12%, 19.75%, 22.25% and 31.48% and the duration of the episodes of ischemia per patient 37, 37.5, 50.8 and 85.1 minutes, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase with aging in number and duration of the episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial ischemia is still present in asymptomatic patients during anti-anginal treatment and the ischemia is mainly silent. There is a progressive increase with aging in number and duration of the episodes of ischemia.