Patient characteristics and practice patterns in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction in Kuwait: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to the general hospitals and to assess the feasibility of establishing a registry for AMI in Kuwait.


METHODS
We prospectively included 111 consecutive patients (94 males and 17 females, mean age 55 years) admitted to the coronary care units of the five participating hospitals during May 2000. The subjects all had a final diagnosis of AMI. A structured data collection form that included biochemical measurements was filled out for each patient.


RESULTS
The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, hypertension and current smoking was 46, 45, 30 and 49%, respectively. Fifty-four of 57 patients who were eligible for thrombolytic therapy received treatment. The median time from symptom onset to thrombolytic therapy was 180 min. At discharge 93% were prescribed aspirin, 81% beta-blockers, 40% angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and 32% lipid-lowering drugs. The in-hospital mortality was 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of smoking, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia is high among our patients. Thrombolytic therapy is used regularly but insufficiently early. Based on this pilot study, it is feasible to establish an AMI registry in Kuwait.
Rashed
Wafa
W
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait.
Zubaid
Mohammad
M
David
Thomas
T
Mohammad
Bader
B
Basharuthulla
Mahmoud S
MS
Smid
Jaroslav
J
Khan
Hassan
H
Memon
Anjum
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D001241:Aspirin