Has the long term prognosis following myocardial infarction improved?
Coronary heart disease mortality in New Zealand has declined by 25% in the 15 years since 1968. One possible explanation for this decline is lower case-fatality rates resulting from improvements in the management of myocardial infarction. This paper tests this hypothesis by examining trends in three year survival following a definite myocardial infarction for the population aged 35-69 in Auckland. The data were obtained from two methodologically identical population-based registers of myocardial infarction compiled in Auckland in 1974 and 1981. The three year survival rates were 59% and 65% for the two time periods respectively and this difference did not reach statistical significance. However, as the survival curves appear to be diverging, there may have been a small improvement in long term outcome after myocardial infarction.
Stewart
A W
AW
Beaglehole
R
R
Fraser
G E
GE
Sharpe
D N
DN
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D009520:New Zealand; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors