Symptoms of myocardial infarction in old age: clinical case, retrospective and prospective studies.

In a clinical case study (n = 71), a retrospective study (n = 96), and a prospective study (n = 60, 10 cases and 50 controls)--all of a duration of three years--prevalence and kind of symptoms of myocardial infarction in geriatric long-term care patients were studied. The findings suggest a low diagnostic accuracy of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly. The clinical features seem to be different compared to those of younger patients. Intense dyspnoea, syncope and weakness are more common than chest pain.