Long‐term Prognosis After Ventricular Fibrillation in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

During the period 1965–1969 a total of 87 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been discharged from hospital alive after recovering from one or more episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF). The average age was 59 years (39–82). Up to the time of follow‐up the group had been observed for 6–62 months. At the follow‐up 47 of the survivors were alive and the average age was significantly lower than that of the non‐survivors. The prognosis was not found to be significantly better in the cases of “primary” as opposed to “complicating” VF. The actual time of the first VF had no significant influence on the survival rate. Normal heart volume upon discharge was found to be a favourable factor in prognosis. After convalescence 16 of the 44 patients in employment prior to the onset of disease returned to work. Other factors influencing return to work are discussed.