Myocardial Infarction

1. Patients with an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and a potassium levels between 3.5 and 4.5 mEq/L had the lowest mortality rate in the hospital. The mortality rate was twice as great for patients with a potassium of 4.5 to 5.0 mEq/L even though current guidelines recommend maintaining serum potassium levels between 4.0 and 5.0 mEq/L. (1/12/11)
2. ‎"The incidence rate of acute MI [ myocardial infarction (heart attack)] onset was elevated 21.1-fold (95% confidence interval, 13.1–34.1) within 24 hours of the death of a significant person and declined steadily on each subsequent day." (1/24/12)