Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death after acute myocardial infarction.
Annals Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2010; 39: 237-46.
Abstract
Many patients who survive an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain at risk of recurrent cardiac events and sudden cardiac death after discharge, despite optimal medical treatment. As-sessment of the degree of left ventricular dysfunction and residual myocardial ischaemia is useful to identify the patients at greatest risk. In addition, there is increasing evidence that a number of other cardiovascular tests can be used to detect autonomic dysfunction and myocardialsubstrate abnormalities postAMI that increase the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. These investigations include ECG-based tests (signal averaged ECG and T-wave alternans), Holter-based recordings (heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence) and imaging techniques (echocar-diography and cardiac magnetic resonance), as well as invasive electrophysiological testing. This article reviews the current evidence for the use of these additional cardiac investigations among survivors of AMI to aid in their risk stratification for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sud-den cardiac death.
