Abstract
Among 209 evaluable consecutive patients (mean age 57 years) admitted in 1978 and 1979 for acute myocardial infarction, 186 survived. The mean hospital stay of the survivors was 9.7 days. Of these patients, 99 (53%) with complicated myocardial infarction had a mean hospital stay of 11.2 days; 87 (47%) with uncomplicated infarction had a mean stay of 7.9 days.
All patients were followed for at least 6 months. During the 6-month post- hospitalization interval, the overall mortality was about 6%. Of the 12 patients who died, 11 had complicated, and 1 had uncomplicated myocardial infarction.
The reinfarction rate in 6 months was 4% for complicated and 2% for uncomplicated infarction. Congestive heart failure was 3% for complicated and zero for uncomplicated infarction.
Comparing these findings with reported series of patients with longer hospitalizations, we found no evidence that shortened hospitalization ad versely affects mortality or morbidity.
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