[Changes in the patterns of drug prescription for acute myocardial infarct. Comparison of 2 periods].
BACKGROUND
Pharmacotherapy of Chilean patients with acute myocardial infarction has been recorded in 37 hospitals since 1993.


OBJECTIVE
To compare pharmacotherapy for acute myocardial infarction in the period 1993 to 1995 with the period 1997-1998.


METHODS
Drug prescription during hospital stay was recorded in 2957 patients admitted to Chilean hospitals with an acute myocardial infarction in the period 1993-1995 and compared with that of 1981 subjects admitted in the period 1997-1998.


RESULTS
When compared with the former period, in the lapse 1997-1998 there was an increase in the frequency of prescription of aspirin (93 and 96.1% respectively) beta blockers (37 and 55.2% respectively) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (32 and 53%). The prescription of thrombolytic therapy did not change (33 and 33.7% respectively). There was a reduction in the prescription of calcium antagonists and antiarrhythmic drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
During the period 1997-1998, the prescription of drugs with a potential to reduce the mortality of acute myocardial infarction, increased. The diffusion of guidelines for the management of this disease may have influenced this change.
Prieto
J C
JC
Centro Cardiovascular Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile y Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027 Casilla 70,000 Santiago 7 Chile.
Corbalán
R
R
Nazza
C
C
Chávez
E
E
Lanas
F
F
Bartolucci
J
J
Cumsille
F
F
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin