An Evaluation of the Effect of Continuous Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy on the Prognosis of Myocardial Infarction

Eighty-two patients who survived a myocardial infarct were treated continuously with anticoagulants for periods of 3 to 76 months. Another 88 patients whose treatment with anticoagulants was limited to the acute phase of an infarction and who were observed for similar periods acted as a control group. The group treated continuously exhibits a lower mortality rate with fewer recurrences of infarction. Among the factors subjected to statistical analysis and found to influence the ultimate prognosis unfavourably and which therefore serve as indications for long-term anticoagulant therapy, are a severe presenting attack and a history of previous infarction.