Mortality after first myocardial infarction in Greek patients: a 4-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Death associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) depends in part on the time since the myocardial infarction (MI) and modification of risk factors.


METHODS
This observational, retrospective 4-year follow-up study consisted of 804 patients (628 men). The participants completed a questionnaire reporting diet, demographic factors, personal behavior (smoking, physical activity), anthropometry, prior medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes mellitus), and recent medication.


RESULTS
During 48 months of follow-up, 12% of men and 15% of women died. Older age, longer duration of smoking, and frequency of exercise were significantly different between survivors and the deceased (P = .014, P = .014, P = .001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed associations with years of smoking (odds ratio, OR: 1.10, P = .025), treatment with nitrates (OR: 4.81, P = .024), and increased frequency of exercise (OR: 0.42, P = .013), adjusting for age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
We should emphasize cessation of smoking and increased physical activity in MI survivors. Antismoking programs should start at an early age.
Kolovou
Genovefa D
GD
First Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece. genovefa@kolovou.com
Mihas
Constantinos
C
Kotanidou
Anastasia
A
Dimoula
Yvoni
Y
Karkouli
Georgia
G
Kadda
Olga
O
Anagnostopoulou
Katherine
K
Mikhailidis
Dimitri P
DP
Marvaki
Christina
C
D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D009566:Nitrates; D014665:Vasodilator Agents