Prognostic significance of the number of leads with ST depression during an anginal attack in high risk patients with unstable angina.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS We examined the prognostic significance of electrocardiographic predictors (number of leads with ST depression, maximal ST depression, QT dispersion), C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, myosin light chain 1 and creatine kinase MB fraction in 62 patients with unstable angina showing ST depression during an anginal attack. RESULTS During the 90-day follow-up period, 15 patients (24%) exhibited new cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction or urgent revascularization). Using multivariate analysis, the number of leads with ST depression [relative risk 6.305 (95% confidence intervals 1.831-21.71), p<0.01] during an anginal attack was found to be an independent risk factor to predict cardiac events. Other predictors did not have prognostic significance. CONCLUSION The number of leads with ST depression during an anginal attack is an independent risk predictor for new cardiac events in high risk patients with unstable angina.