Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

Epidemiology of heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction: prevalence, clinical characteristics, and prognostic importance.

Weir RA, McMurray JJ, Velazquez EJ

Department of Cardiology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom, and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.

The development of heart failure and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results in significant risk far above that of AMI independently. In patients admitted to the hospital for AMI, concomitant heart failure and/or LVSD on hospital admission or development of either or both of these conditions during admission are among the strongest predictors of inhospital death and are associated with significant increases in inhospital, 30-day, and long-term mortality and rehospitalization rates. Given the high risks in this population, aggressive treatment, comprising early initiation and sustained use of evidence-based treatments, is essential for improving prognosis.

Published 15 May 2006 in Am J Cardiol, 97(10): 13F-25F.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Epidemiology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.