Purpose : The study was conducted to ascertain changes in life and social activity among elderly myocardial infarction (hereafter MI) patients in two years after leaving hospital and to identify their causes. Methods : Ten persons aged over 65 who had the first MI were visited during a period to two years after being released from hospital to carry out a prospective study. A semi-structured interview was conducted and the social activity indicator was used to measure social activity. Results : The score of the social activity indicator was the lowest in the third month after leaving hospital, which then increased up to the twelfth month. However, it dropped two years after leaving hospital. In the high activity level five cases made a good recovery in their social activity and quality of life. On the other hand, in two cases their recovery remained only at about 50%. In the low activity level group the score of the social activity indicator slightly declined in the third month, which was maintained up to the twelfth month, and further dropped two years after leaving hospital. As to influencing factors for expanding social activity, the patient had anxiety about a recurrence of paroxysms and chest pain and the family had the same fear also in six cases. Conclusions : This study implied the necessity of including the following support in continuous nursing for elderly MI patients : to assess the conditions and socio-psychological maladaptation of the patients who show no signs of expanding their social activity for six months after leaving hospital, to assess the patient's and family's fear of a recurrence of paroxysms.