Possible myocardial infarction in Auckland.

Possible myocardial infarction defines a group of cases who describe severe ischaemic-type chest pain, who survive at least 24 hours, but have no clear electrocardiographic or enzymatic evidence of acute myocardial infarction. The descriptive epidemiology of this condition is described for a group of such cases in Auckland, New Zealand. The sex ratio is 1.75 and the crude incidence about 0.0012 per year. There was evidence that Polynesian females are particularly prone to this condition compared to Polynesian males. Alcohol consumption was relatively high as was the frequency of cigarette smoking. Fifty-two percent had a history of hypertension. Twenty-four percent had a normal electrocardiography. Death during the first 30 days was uncommon.