Streptokinase and lifestyle outcome in survivors of myocardial infarction.
Clinical and lifestyle parameters were assessed in 145 patients who were randomised in a double blind study comparing streptokinase or placebo given within four hours of the onset of ischaemic chest pain. Sixty-six percent of patients were in paid employment at the time of their infarct and 79% returned to paid employment. Patients who received streptokinase returned to work 17 days earlier (p less than 0.05) and returned to sport and leisure activities 33 days earlier (p less than 0.05) than those who received placebo. Those who had received streptokinase also tended to leave hospital earlier (0.8 days, p = 0.07). There were no differences in angioplasty or coronary surgery rates or the incidence of reinfarction in the first year (8%). Total community costs were reduced in the patients who received thrombolytic therapy. These findings have important implications in the benefit:cost analysis of thrombolytic therapy.
Elliott
J M
JM
Green Lane Hospital, Auckland.
Williams
B F
BF
White
H D
HD
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004651:Employment; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D007902:Length of Stay; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency
D010919:Placebos; D013300:Streptokinase