Life Change Events, Ballistocardiography and Coronary Death,

摘要

Thirty-six men and women who experienced a documented myocardial infarction, half of whom died from their disease and half of whom survived over the following six-year period, provided longitudinal recent life changes and ballistocardiographic data. The 18 patients who died from their coronary disease indicated a build-up in life changes which peaked at approximately one year prior to death; their serial ballistocardiographies indicated a build-up in average force of contraction which peaked during the final six months prior to death. The 18 post-infarction patients who survived the six-year follow-up interval showed neither a build-up in life change nor a build-up in a ballistocardiographic index of cardiac contraction force. These findings are discussed as to their possible medical and psychological significances in the understanding of the natural history of coronary death.