Prognosis, severity of symptoms, and aspects of well-being among patients in whom myocardial infarction was ruled out

Abstract

In a high proportion of patients hospitalized due to suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) the diagnosis cannot be confirmed. The majority of these patients have ischemic heart disease and are at risk for subsequent cardiac events. The aim of this study was to describe the severity of symptoms and various aspects of well-being 1 year after hospitalization due to suspected AMI in surviving patients in whom the diagnosis was not confirmed, and to relate the observations to those found among survivors of a confirmed AMI. All patients admitted to Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg, due to suspected AMI and who were alive after 1 year were asked to answer a questionnaire including questions regarding cardiovascular, psychiatric, and psychological symptoms. Patients in whom AMI was not confirmed reported more cardiovascular symptoms, for example, chest pain (p < 0.001), dyspnea (p < 0.01), palpitations (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p < 0.01) when compared with patients who suffered confirmed AMI. The majority of psychosomatic and psychological parameters evaluated were also more frequently reported by these patients and their quality of life seems to be worse compared with survivors of AMI.