Meta-analysis of the morning excess of acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death.

To evaluate the impact of elimination of the morning peak of cardiovascular events, we performed a meta-analysis of studies of circadian variation of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. The impact would be significant because approximately 1 of every 11 acute myocardial infarctions and 1 of every 15 sudden cardiac deaths are attributable to the morning excess incidence.