[Clinical features and long-term outcome of non-Q wave myocardial infarction in the elderly: comparison with Q wave myocardial infarction].

ABSTRACT

The clinical features and long-term outcome of non-Q wave myocardial infarction (NQMI) in the elderly were assessed in 24 patients with NQMI and compared with those in 48 patients with Q wave myocardial infarction (QMI). NQMI patients had a significantly lower maximal peak of serum creatine phosphokinase activity and lower incidence of pump failure during the acute phase. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between the NQMI and QMI patients. Evaluation of acute-phase coronary angiographic features within 6 hours of onset found a significantly higher incidence of infarct-related vessels in the NQMI patients, but the frequency of multivessel disease and the level of collateral flow did not differ between the two groups. Fifteen of the 24 NQMI patients and 34 of the 48 QMI patients underwent emergency coronary revascularization procedures of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or intracoronary thrombolysis. Successful recanalization was more frequent and the time to recanalization was shorter in the NQMI patients. The requirement for coronary revascularization (PTCA or coronary artery bypass graft) in the chronic phase for residual stenosis did not differ significantly between the two groups. Left ventricular ejection fractions were significantly better in the NQMI patients. The short- and long-term outcomes in elderly patients with NQMI and QMI were good and did not differ between the two groups, probably reflecting the active performance of revascularization in the acute and chronic phases.