[Use of statins in hospitals after myocardial infarction].
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to register the frequency of statin prescription during the initial hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and therapeutic intensity at follow-up.


METHODS
A retrospective study among patients aged below 70 of both sexes with acute myocardial infarction, who survived the initial hospitalization at the University Hospital of Tromsø during 1995-1998.


RESULTS
473 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 76% men, mean age 57.4 (range 33-70 yrs) were included. Statin treatment was started in 55% of the patients within discharge from the hospital. Total cholesterol (odds ratio 0.51, 0.41-0.64; 95% CI) and decreasing age (1.60, 1.21-2.10) were significant predictors for statin prescription. Statin treatment started during hospitalization increased gradually from 42% in 1995 to 91% in 1998 (p < 0.001) among patients with total cholesterol above 5.0 mmol/l at admission. 54% of the statin users achieved the treatment goal at their first outpatient control 8-12 weeks after discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of statin users has increased satisfactory during 1995-98, but the therapeutic intensity is unsatisfactory compared to guidelines for cholesterol-lowering treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Notø
A T
AT
Medisinsk avdeling Regionsykehuset i Tromsø 9038 Tromsø.
Steffensen
L
L
Nordøy
A
A
Hansen
J B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009664:Norway; D010343:Patient Admission; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol