The evaluation of electrocardiogram in patients with unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

Positive electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction are well known, but problem arises when no specific changes in ECG are identified. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of these changes in hospitalized patients at Amir Kabir Hospital of Arak.

This study was a cross-sectional one that was conducted on 124 patients hospitalized at the heart emergency ward of Arak Amir Kabir Hospital with unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. ECG changes and serum cardiac enzyme levels were analyzed on admission and 12 hours after admission.

According to patients’ history and serum cardiac enzymes, 62 patients had undergone myocardial infarction without ST segment elevation, 98.4% of whom had ECG changes and 1.5% showed no ECG changes. Of the 60 patients, who had been hospitalized with unstable angina, 90% showed ECG changes and the rest 10% revealed no such changes.

In comparison to other studies reporting that 50% of patients with unstable angina and non ST elevation myocardial infarction reveal no ECG changes, a high percentage of patients referring with a chest pain to the heart emergency ward of Amir Kabir Hospital, had no significant changes in their ECG and were not hospitalized.