Long-term survival after development of acute myocardial infarction has improved after a more widespread use of thrombolysis and aspirin.
We describe the mortality during the subsequent 5 years after development of acute myocardial infarction prior to and after the introduction of a more widespread use of thrombolytic agents and aspirin in the community of Göteborg. During period I, 4% received thrombolysis as compared with 32% during period II (p < 0.0001). The corresponding figures for prescription of aspirin at discharge were 14 and 84%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The overall 5-year mortality was 48% during period I and 46% during period II (p = 0.09). However, the age-adjusted mortality during period II was significantly reduced (risk ratio 0.86; 95% confidence interval 0.78-0.95; p = 0. 004). There was no significant interaction between improvement in survival and sex or any other parameter reflecting patients' clinical history.
Herlitz
J
J
Division of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Sahlgrenska, Göteborg, Sweden.
Abrahamsson
P
P
Dellborg
M
M
Karlson
B W
BW
Karlsson
T
T
Lindqvist
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin