title: Audit of acute myocardial infarctions at Saint James's Hospital, Dublin, from 1996 to 1999.
abstract: Saint James' Hospital is a 650-bed tertiary referral hospital. An audit was performed of acute transmural myocardial infarctions for the years 1996 to 1999 inclusive. On average there were 2043 cardiology admissions annually, 9.8% of all hospital admissions. Acute transmural myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 178 patients annually, and was less common during the summer. The figure of 72% receiving revascularisation therapy (thrombolysis 67%, primary angioplasty 5%) compares favourably with 35% in 1992. The main reason for not receiving thrombolysis was late presentation (15%) with contraindications present in only 5%. The case fatality rate was 16% confirming the higher mortality in clinical practice than that of thrombolytic trials. The prescription of aspirin or warfarin (99%) and betablockers (67%) was in line with international trials. The use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (34%) and statins (28%) is similar to other studies but less than would be expected according to trial evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, CResT Directorate, Saint James' Hospital, Dublin 8.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Pate
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Curtin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crean
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors