One-year mortality after acute myocardial infarction prior to and after the implementation of a widespread use of thrombolysis and aspirin. Experiences from the community of Göteborg, Sweden.
During 1 year of follow-up, we compared the mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) prior to and after the introduction of a more widespread use of thrombolytic agents and aspirin.


METHODS
Two periods (I = 1986-1987 and II = 1989-1990) were compared.


METHODS
All patients admitted to the coronary care units at the two city hospitals in the community of Goteborg who fulfilled the criteria for development of AMI participated in the evaluation.


RESULTS
The overall 1-year mortality rate was 27% [corrected] during period I and 23% during period II (NS). However, among patients up to 70 years of age, the mortality was reduced from 15 to 11% (p < 0.05), whereas among patients aged over 70 years the mortality remained almost unchanged (34 vs. 35%; NS).


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of a more widespread use of thrombolytic agents and aspirin has not substantially changed the overall mortality in AMI. However, among younger patients, the mortality appears to have been reduced but not among the elderly.
Herlitz
J
J
Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Hartford
M
M
Karlson
B W
BW
Dellborg
M
M
Källström
G
G
Karlsson
T
T
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin