Prognostic significance of maximal precordial ST-segment depression in right (V1 to V3) versus left (V4 to V6) leads in patients with inferior wall acute myocardial infarction.

This study examines whether patients with inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and maximal ST-segment depression in left precordial leads are at higher risk for in-hospital mortality. The charts of patients (n = 213) with inferior wall AMI and an initial electrocardiogram that displayed peaked, tall T waves or ST-segment elevation with upright T waves in inferior leads were reviewed, after excluding patients with inverted T waves in inferior leads (n = 75). ST-segment deviation from baseline was measured for all leads. Patients were classified into 3 types: I = no precordial ST-segment depression; II = sum of ST-segment depression in leads V1 to V3 equal to or more than the sum of ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6; and III = maximal precordial ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6. Thirty-six patients (17%) died in the hospital. In-hospital mortality rates for patients with types I and II were 12% and 10%, respectively, compared with 41% for those with type III (p < 0.0001). Mortality rates in surviving patients were similar for all types up to 1 year after infarction. Multivariate logistic regression models for in-hospital mortality by ST-segment depression type adjusted for age, previous AMI, diabetes mellitus, and thrombolytic therapy revealed that type III pattern was a strong predictive factor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 4.9, p = 0.0008, 95% confidence interval 1.93 to 12.26). Thus, patients with inferior wall AMI and maximal precordial ST-segment depression in leads V4 to V6 are at high risk for in-hospital mortality.