Introduction:

The frequency of non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction is on the increase, and so is the number of adverse results in patients with acute ischemic coronary disease.

Objective:

Identify the electrocardiographic variables associated to the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events in non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction.

Method:

A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted of 68 patients with non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction cared for at Arnaldo Milián Castro Hospital in the province of Villa Clara. Attention was paid to electrocardiographic findings and adverse cardiac events occurring during the hospital stay. Bivariate analyses were performed to establish the relationship between the two variables, using the chi square statigram and relative risk estimation.

Results:

The most common electrocardiographic findings were T-wave inversion (≥ 2 mm), ST depression and long corrected QT by Bazzet's formula. Of the total study subjects 26.5% had adverse cardiovascular events. ST depression, long corrected QT and ST elevation in aVR were significantly associated to in-hospital adverse events (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Association of ST depression, ST elevation in aVR and long corrected QT with the occurrence of adverse in-hospital cardiovascular events suggests that these findings may be taken into account as possible indicators of an unfavorable evolution in patients with non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction.

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