Medication in acute myocardial infarction -- does it do as much harm as good?
Despite the apparent success of coronary care units in preventing death from ventricular fibrillation, the mortality from acute myocardial infarction is the same whether the patient is treated at home or in such a unit. No adequate explanation for this apparent paradox has been proposed. The evidence is therefore examined that there are detrimental effects of coronary care units and that these may balance the beneficial effects. In particular, it is suggested that antiarrhythmic medication, by virtue of its frequent side-effects, may increase mortality from non-arrhythmic causes.
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents