title: Pharmacological profile of survivors of acute myocardial infarction at Turkish academic hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to document treatment profiles in 850 patients surviving acute myocardial infarction at 17 academic hospitals in Turkey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pharmacological management data of acute myocardial infarction survivors were collected and divided into three categories: drugs which patients received before hospitalization, during the hospitalization, and at hospital discharge. Data regarding medical history, complications during hospitalization, MI extent (Q wave or non-Q wave), infarct location and diagnostic and revascularization procedures were also recorded. This study is based on the 850 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for initial acute MI in the period examined. Among 850 patients with myocardial infarction enrolled 408 (48%) received thrombolytic therapy. The median time interval from symptom onset to initiation of thrombolytic therapy was 196 min. The most commonly used thrombolytic agent was streptokinase (93%). Thrombolytic recipients were younger, and presented sooner after onset of symptoms. Among patients receiving thrombolytic therapy, concomitant pharmacotherapy included aspirin (95%), intravenous heparin (93%), intravenous nitroglycerin (91%), oral beta-blockers (44%), calcium channel antagonists (13%), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (41%). The lipid lowering therapy was only used in 4% of all patients, and was given to 18% of patients with hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current usage rates of thrombolytic therapy in Turkey are lower than expected, but when compared with previous reports it increased. Although adjunctive treatment with intravenous heparin and intravenous nitroglycerin is usually used, beta-blockers appear to be underused and calcium channel blockers appear to be overused. The lipid reducing therapies were infrequently prescribed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ergin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abaci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakalli
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Eryol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oguzhan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D006493:Heparin; D013300:Streptokinase; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D001241:Aspirin