Myocardial infarction and thrombolysis: a comparison of the Indian and European populations on a coronary care unit.
We reviewed the ward admission notes of 211 Indian and 192 European patients admitted over a period of 12 months to a coronary care unit. More Indian patients had myocardial infarctions (34% vs 27%, p < 0.05); they were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (47% vs 14%, p < 0.001), but less likely to smoke (19% vs 67%, p < 0.001). Fewer Indian patients were treated with thrombolysis (49% vs 80%, p < 0.001), late presentation being the principal reason (62% vs 40%, p < 0.05). The referral rates for exercise stress testing and cardiac catheterisation were not significantly lower for Indian patients. The Indian patient admitted into a coronary care unit is more likely to have had a myocardial infarction and yet less likely to receive care comparable to that of his European counterpart.
Lear
J T
JT
Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Lawrence
I G
IG
Pohl
J E
JE
Burden
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*