Survival of the Fittest: Evolution of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction after Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Circulation. 2014 Jul 29;
Authors: Estes NA
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) from cardiac arrest remains the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide and accounts for approximately 250,000 deaths annually in the United States.(1-4) The majority of cardiac arrests occur in patients with a prior myocardial infarction at a rate approximately five times that of the general population.(3) Studies evaluating the time dependence of mortality immediately after an MI have consistently demonstrated that greatest risk for SCD is in patients with impaired LVEF.(1-4) Despite revascularization and widespread use of beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, statins and antiplatelet agents, the risk of SCD remains highest in the first 30 days in these patients.(1-4) Based on these observations, strategies for prevention of SCD need implementation early after an MI in high risk patients.
PMID: 25074506 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]