A registry of acute myocardial infarction in Kuwait: Patient characteristics and practice patterns.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in Kuwait, yet data about patient characteristics and practice patterns are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To establish a registry of all acute myocardial infarction (AMI) cases admitted to the general hospitals in Kuwait, so that the characteristics and management patterns of patients with AMI could be accurately determined.


METHODS
For six consecutive months, all patients with AMI admitted to the coronary care units of the five participating hospitals were prospectively included in the registry.


RESULTS
Of the 662 patients, 87% were men. The mean age was 55 years. A history of diabetes, hypertension and current smoking was found in 41%, 35% and 49% of patients, respectively. A history of hypercholesterolemia or a fasting cholesterol of 5.2 mmol/L or greater was found in 56% of patients. Eighty per cent suffered ST-segment elevation AMI. Four hundred seventy-six patients who were eligible for thrombolytic therapy were identified, 12 (3%) of whom did not receive it. The median time from diagnostic electrocardiogram to thrombolytic therapy was 45 min. The rate of prescribing acetylsalicylic acid, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins at discharge among survivors was 98%, 86%, 51% and 50%, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
The Kuwaiti AMI population is young, with high rates of diabetes, smoking and hypercholesterolemia. The majority of patients have ST-segment elevation AMI. Thrombolytic therapy is appropriately used, but measures need to be introduced to decrease the time to treatment. The rate of use of acetylsalicylic acid and beta-blockers was appropriate, while that of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins needs to be improved.
Zubaid
Mohammad
M
Department of Medicine, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Safat, Kuwait. zubaid@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Rashed
Wafa A
WA
Husain
Mohammad
M
Mohammad
Bader A
BA
Ridha
Mustafa
M
Basharuthulla
Mahmood
M
Rezq
Marwan Abu
MA
Smid
Jaroslav
J
Thalib
Lukman
L
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors