Age-related in-hospital mortality among patients with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the in-hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction among different age groups.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
Coronary Care Unit and Cardiology Ward of Nishtar Hospital, Multan from 1st of September 2002 till 10th of April 2003.


METHODS
The subjects were 460 admitted patients of acute myocardial infarction who fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into four age groups. Group-I included patients in 20-40 years, group-II (41-50 years), group-III (51-60 years) and group-IV (>60 years). Mortality was compared between different age groups by Chi-square and linear-regression models.


RESULTS
The total in-hospital mortality was 16.7%. It gradually increased from 5.6% in group-I (20-40 years) patients to 21% in group-IV (>60 years) patients. While mortality in groups group-II (41-50 years) and group-III (51-60 years) patients was 16.7% and 18.6% respectively. A marked increase in mortality was noted with increase in age. Group-IV (>60 years) patients presented 2 hours late to the hospital than the group-I (20-40 years) patients. There was no statistical difference in site of infarction in different age groups. Old age (group-IV i.e. >60 years old) was more associated with heart failure (higher Killip class) on presentation. Lesser number of patients in group-IV received thrombolytic therapy than group-I. Only 31.09% patients in group-IV and 62.5% patients in group-I received streptokinase therapy respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with acute myocardial infarction age was a powerful independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and complications.
Abid
Abdul Rehman
AR
Medical Unit II, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. drabdulrehman@hotmail.com
Rafique
Shahid
S
Tarin
Siraj Munir Ahmed
SM
Ahmed
Raja Zafar
RZ
Anjum
Abdul Hameed
AH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy