Results of hospital rehabilitation of 1000 patients with myocardial infarction.

Hospital rehabilitation of patients with myocardial infarction was conducted according to the model worked out by the Institute of Cardiology in Warsaw and modified at the Department of Cardiology of the Medical Academy in Lublin. According to their clinical condition, the patients were divided into 3 groups. Group A comprised patients with extensive myocardial infarction and complications; duration of hospital stay was 28 days. Group B included patients with extensive infarction without complications; hospital stay was 21 days. Group C included patients with limited myocardial necrosis and a mild course of the disease, and duration of stay of 14 days. Out of 1000 patients with myocardial infarction 134 (13.4%) died within the first 4 days after admission, i.e. before the beginning of rehabilitation treatment; 56 (5.6%) died during rehabilitation. The group of patients undergoing rehabilitation treatment comprised 866 patients (86.6%), including 382 (44.1%) in group A, 404 (46.6%) In group B, and 80 (9.3%) in group C. The mean duration of hospital stay of all patients with myocardial infarction was 24.3 days; in 80 cases (9.9%) it was 14 days, in 397 cases (49.0%) 21 days, and in 236 cases (29.1%) 28 days. In 97 cases (12.0%) hospitalization was longer than 28 days. Work was resumed by 30% of white and blue collar workers and 89.5% or farmers within the productive age groups.