Background: Prolongation of the QRS duration has been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes among heart failure (HF) patients. The association of QRS duration with clinical outcomes in the post-myocardial infarction (MI) setting is less well defined.
Objectives: To assess the prognostic significance of QRS duration prolongation on initial electrocardiogram after acute MI.
Background: The risk of sudden death from cardiac causes is increased among survivors of acute myocardial infarction with reduced left ventricular systolic function. We assessed the risk and time course of sudden death in high-risk patients after myocardial infarction.
Methods: We studied 14,609 patients with left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, or both after myocardial infarction to assess the incidence and timing of sudden unexpected death or cardiac arrest with resuscitation in relation to the left ventricular ejection fraction.