Clinical features of patients who died from acute myocardial infarction with necropsy confirmation

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, among this group, acute myocardial infarction accounts for a large number of cases. Objective: To characterize the clinical features of patients who died from acute myocardial infarction in the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiology Ward of the Celestino Hernández Robau University Hospital. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional development research was conducted in a sample consisting of 110 patients who died from acute myocardial infarction, with necropsy confirmation. Results: There was a predominance of patients aged 65 and older (79.1%) and of males (54.5%). There were 94 patients with three or more risk factors, and hypertension (81.7%) was the most common one. The most common forms of clinical presentation were typical chest pain (52.7%) and ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (74.5%). The main anatomoclinical complication was cardiogenic shock (57.3%). Fibrinolytic therapy and angioplasty were used only in 47 patients (42.7%). Conclusions: There was a predominance of male patients, of those over 65 years of age and of the clinical presentation with the typical chest pain. Hypertension was the main risk factor. There was also a predominance of patients with three or more risk factors, ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram and cardiogenic shock as a complication. The use of fibrinolytic therapy and angioplasty was scarce.