title: [Use of thrombolytic agents and other drugs in acute myocardial infarction].
abstract: Data on all patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated in the ten hospitals in Health region 1 in Norway were extensively analysed over a two month period. Of all the 487 patients 32% received thrombolytic treatment; i.e 36% of those with definite or suspected myocardial infarction on admission. Thrombolytics were withheld, mainly because only 58% of the patients showed ST elevation or bundle branch block on their ECG, and because of a long delay from onset of symptoms to admission to hospital. With increasing age use of thrombolytics decreased, and high age seemed to some degree to act as a contraindication. Relative contraindications such as history of stroke or peptic ulcer contributed modestly to the limited use of thrombolytics. Aspirin was used by 72% of the patients, and either aspirin or anticoagulants in 87%. At six month follow-up 50% used aspirin and 32% warfarin. Betablockers were given to 57% of the patients in hospital, but were not used to any extent in the acute phase of the disease; at six months the proportion of patients on betablockers was about the same. Oral nitrates were used more extensively than betablockers and there is a clear indication that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are used increasingly for secondary prevention.
authors.affiliation: Forskningsforum Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reikvam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009664:Norway
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
vernacular_title: Bruk av trombolytika og andre medikamenter ved akutt hjerteinfarkt.