Characteristics, management, and in-hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction in the "real world" in France--data from a large unselected cohort of 2,519 consecutive patients in a French region.
OBJECTIVE
The prospective PRIMA study (Prise en charge de l'Infarctus du Myocarde Aigu; management of acute MI) sought to determine characteristics, management, and in-hospital mortality of myocardial infarction (MI), regardless of age and hospital facilities, in the "real world" in a region in France.


RESULTS
Data were prospectively collected in all patients with MI admitted in all hospitals in three departments in the Rh ne-Alpes region between September 1, 1993 and January 31, 1995. 2,519 patients (68% men; mean +/- SD: 68 +/- 14 years) were included. Time from onset of symptoms to admission was < 6 h in 56% of the patients (median: 4 h 30 min). MI was non-Q wave in 12%. Among Q wave MI, location was anterior in 44%. At admission, Killip class was > 1 in 33%. The overall rate of thrombolysis was 36%. It was significantly higher in men than in women, in younger patients than in older patients, in lower Killip classes, in Q wave MI, and when the delay before initial medical intervention was < 6 hours. After age-adjustment, there was no difference between men and women for thrombolysis rate (odds ratio women/men: 0.92; p = 0.10). During the first 5 days, Killip class worsened in 17%. In-hospital mortality rate was 14%. Multivariate analysis identified age, anterior location, presence of Q waves, and higher Killip classes as significant predictors of in-hospital mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
This large unselected cohort revealed that among patients with MI in a French region, there was a high proportion of elderly patients, a low rate of thrombolysis, and a high in-hospital mortality.
de Gevigney
G
G
H pital Cardiovasculaire et Pneumologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, France.
Ecochard
R
R
Colin
C
C
Rabilloud
M
M
Excoffier
S
S
Cao
D
D
Cheneau
E
E
Milon
H
H
Delahaye
F
F
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents