title: Comparison of mortality from acute myocardial infarction between 1979 and 1992 in a geographically defined stable population.
abstract: This study documents mortality from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in hospital and at 1 year, for each of 3 selected 1-year periods in a stable community over a 13-year period beginning in 1979 and continuing into the thrombolytic era, to detect any changes occurring in conjunction with the introduction of new therapies. Every patient with AMI occurring in a geographically defined stable community (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) in 3 1-year periods (1979 to 1980 [n = 816], 1986 to 1987 [n = 816], and 1991 to 1992 [n = 831]) was identified and clinically characterized by standardized criteria. Subsequent in-hospital and 1-year survival were ascertained prospectively. The 3 cohorts were similar in prognostic factors. Mean age was progressively greater over the study period from 63 years in 1979 to 1980, to 67 years in 1991 to 1992 (p = 0.02). There was no change in in-hospital mortality rates from 1979 to 1980 (17%) and 1986 to 1987 (16%). However, from 1986 to 1987 and 1991 to 1992, in-hospital mortality decreased from 16% to 9% (p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality decreased from 26% to 19% (p < 0.001). For patients who survived the hospital phase of AMI, 1-year mortality did not change and was between 11% and 12% in each of the 3 study periods. From 1986 to 1987 and 1991 to 1992, there was an increase in the use of thrombolytic therapy from 5% to 44% of patients. The acute use of aspirin increased from 30% to 88% and the acute use of beta blockers increased from 19% to 48% of patients. The observed increase in use of these agents could account for half of the actual mortality reduction observed. This prospective population-based survey demonstrates improved in-hospital survival after AMI associated with increased use of established effective therapies between 1987 and 1992. The 1-year mortality of hospital survivors of AMI was unchanged throughout the period of study, remaining at 11% to 12%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Le Feuvre
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gent
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy