RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The occurrence of preinfarction angina (PA) reduces the extent of myocardial necrosis, increases the volume of viable myocardium, and improves left ventricular function. However, there is no agreement about the effect of PA on mortality. The objective of this study was to determine whether PA is associated with in-hospital mortality. METHOD: A meta-analysis (fixed effects model) of all published reports evaluating in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction according to the presence or absence of PA was performed. PA was defined as the occurrence of angina in the 24 hours before onset of the infarction. We searched the Medline and Embase databases in June 2004 using <