title: Epidemiological characteristics, management and early outcome of acute myocardial infarction in Greece: the HELlenic Infarction Observation Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taking into consideration the need for an updated survey on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Greece, we conducted the HELIOS study (HELlenic Infarction Observation Study), aiming to recruit a cohort of AMI patients that would be representative of the total AMI population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HELIOS study is a countrywide registry of AMI, conducted during 2005-2006 by the Prevention Working Group of the Hellenic Cardiological Society. We enrolled 1840 AMI pts from 31 hospitals (mean age 68 +/- 13 years, 75% men, 1096 ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] patients), with a proportional representation of all types of hospitals and of all geographical areas. The study recruited 10% of the total number of AMI cases that occur per year on a countrywide basis, taking into consideration the seasonal variations of the population in each geographical area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite demographic changes, there is still a male predominance among AMI patients and an increasing prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors, (obesity, diabetes, hypertension) compared to previous AMI studies in the Greek population. Almost 60% of STEMI patients received reperfusion therapy, but the median value of the pain-to-door time was 180 minutes. The rates of administration of evidence-based medications during hospitalisation or upon discharge and the short-term mortality rates were in accordance with those observed in other international AMI registries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HELIOS study provided valuable insights into the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, management and outcome of patients with AMI in the Greek population. Although there are notable advances compared to previous reports, there is still considerable room for improvement and we should particularly focus on minimising the time delay between arrival at the emergency department and performance of reperfusion, by either pharmacological or catheter-based approaches.
authors.affiliation: First Cardiac Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece. andrikop@hotmail.com
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipilis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudevenos
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzeis
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kartalis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karvounis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mantas
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kyrpizidis
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paschidi
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsaknakis
authors.forename: Vlassios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pyrgakis
authors.forename: Antonios S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Manolis
authors.forename: Harisios
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boudoulas
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: Christodoulos I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lekakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome