Myocardial infarction mortality in the hospital: an exploration of time of death and age.
BACKGROUND
Death is a common complication from myocardial infarction, although little information exists about the pattern of mortality from myocardial infarction and factors associated with this pattern.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the periods of greater-than-expected mortality from myocardial infarction in hospitalized patients and to determine whether an association exists between time of death and age of the patient.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 1045 death certificates that met selection criteria was reviewed. Time of death and age were documented as they appeared on the death certificate. Data were analyzed by log-linear analysis.


RESULTS
Frequency of mortality was determined to be greater than expected between 6 and 6:59 AM, 9 and 9:59 AM and 7 and 7:59 PM. The interaction between time of death and age was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The periods of greater-than-expected mortality coincide with periods when nurses are occupied with other functions and also coincide with temporal patterns of physiologic events.


CONCLUSIONS
A temporal pattern of mortality from myocardial infarction existed for this study. Age was found to be associated with time of death.
Cole
F L
FL
School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
Slocumb
E M
EM
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing; D009511:New England; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D013997:Time Factors