Prognostic significance of asymptomatic coronary artery disease.

Prognosis in the various forms of asymptomatic coronary artery disease is not precisely defined but available data suggest that it may not be as benign as previously thought. This is especially true in patients with silent myocardial ischemia, 3-vessel disease and poor exercise tolerance, because many of these patients may go on to sudden death or myocardial infarction. It is also true in patients with silent myocardial infarctions, because prognosis in this type of myocardial infarction is similar to that of patients with symptomatic infarctions.