Results: SCD occurred in 8.6% of patients during 3 years of follow-up. During the initial hospitalization for MI, the strongest predictors of SCD were atrial fibrillation (AF) (hazard ratio [HR], 2.0), prior stroke (HR, 2.0), and smoking (HR, 1.5). In the first 30 days after MI, the strongest predictors of SCD were recurrent MI (HR, 3.5), rehospitalization (HR, 2.5), and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (HR, 2.3). The strongest predictors of SCD from 30 days to 6 months after MI were prior transient ischemic attack (HR, 1.8), prior diabetes (HR, 1.7), and new left bundle branch block (HR, 1.7). From 6 months to 3 years after MI, the strongest predictors of SCD were prior MI (HR, 1.7), recurrent MI (HR, 1.7), and AF (HR, 1.6).
