| Abstract: | Out of 145 patients with unstable angina hospitalized at CCU of the Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) in 1981, 69 were studied: group I = 23 case (33.3%) with transient ST segment depression, group II = 13 cases (18.8%) with transient ST segment elevation, group III (control) = 33 cases (47.8%) without acute EKG changes. Group I showed a higher incidence of double-triple coronary artery involvement: 71.4% VS 53.8 and 63.3% respectively (non significant). This group also showed a higher number of patients with severe angina and who suffered acute myocardial infarction during follow-up, although without statistical significance. There were 8 deaths (34.8%) in group I, 3 (23.1%) in group II and 4 (12.1%) in group III (chi 2 = 4.11, p greater than 0.05). The 36 months survival rate was lower in group I than in groups II and III: 52.9% VS. 75.2% (NS) and 89.7% (P less than 0.02) respectively. We conclude that acute EKG changes, mainly transient ST segment depression, in unstable angina, are markers of high risk patients. |
