'Myocardial infarction in old age' [L'INFARTO DEL MIOCARDIO NELL'ANZIANO. ESPERIENZA DI DUE ANNI IN UNITA CORONARICA]

272 patients admitted to coronary care unit (C.C.U.) for acute myocardial infarction were subdivided into two age groups; group A: 83 patients over 65 years old (mean age 69.3), group B: 189 patients under 65 years old (mean age 59.3). Mortality rate was significantly higher in group A compared with group B (40.9% and respectively 12.2%: p<0.05) despite the almost identical localization of myocardial infarction. Cardiogenic shock or cardio-circulatory arrest were the most frequent death causes in group A while ventricular fibrillation was responsible for over 50% of deaths in group B. The results show a more severe prognosis for older patients with myocardial infarction. Moreover these patients died in the early period after myocardial infarction, while still in the C.C.U., while patients died somewhat later in the post-intensive care unit usually of ventricular fibrillation.