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ESC Congress 2003: Striking reduction in mortality after a "heart attack" - A National Study in 2002
August 31, 2003IMPORTANT: This press release accompanies a poster or oral session given at the ESC Congress 2003. Written by the investigator himself/herself, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology
We observed a striking decline in mortality among consecutive patients with "heart attacks" hospitalized in 2002, in comparison with previous years, and particularly in comparison with 2000. Given that up to half of all deaths in the adult population are related to coronary heart disease, this finding provides important proof of the recent achievements of modern cardiology, as well as a positive message for millions of cardiac patients all around the world.
Our study was carried out by the Israel Society for the Prevention of Heart Attacks (ISPHA) and the Israel Heart Society (IHS), which, since 1992, have conducted national surveys every two years among all patients hospitalized with "heart attacks" in all cardiac departments operating in the country (National Study).
We compared the treatment and outcome of 2049 patients hospitalized during the 2 month survey in 2002 with the 1795 patients hospitalized in the same period and hospitals in 2000.
The study showed that while patient characteristics were similar in the 2 surveys (75% were men, mean age was 64 years, and 32% were diabetics), patients in 2002 received significantly more beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors and statins, both during hospitalization and upon discharge from hospital. In controlled studies, these drugs proved to be highly effective in improving prognosis after "heart attacks". In addition, patients in 2002 underwent coronary angiography with stent implantation more frequently during hospitalization than counterparts hospitalized in 2000. Hospital duration fell from 7 to 6 days between 2000 and 2002.
The most important finding of our study is a striking mortality decline 7 days, 30 days and 6 months after the "heart attack" in all subgroups of patients (men and women; young and elderly, and according to the severity and type of the heart attack) in 2002 compared to 2000.
Conclusion
As patient characteristics were similar, and both surveys enrolled consecutive, unselected patients hospitalized in the same cardiac departments of the country, it seems that the significant mortality reduction of patients with heart attacks between 2000 and 2002 reflects improvement in management and increasing adherence to recommended guidelines for the management of patients with heart attacks.
National surveys assess adherence to guidelines and evaluate their impact on health outcome in daily practice in the community.
Professor Solomon Behar
Neufeld Cardiac Research Institute
Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Heart Attack Current Events and Heart Attack News RSSThrombosis patients face greater risks than previously believed
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), the formation of blood clots in the lower limbs, is the third-most common vascular disease in North America after heart attack and stroke, and is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients.
Mini heart attacks lessen damage from major ones
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Presence of gum disease may help dentists and physicians identify risk for cardiovascular disease
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Children's Hospital scientists achieve repair of injured heart muscle in lab tests of stem cells
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Understanding how oxidative stress impairs endothelial progenitor cell function
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Researchers identify how binge drinking may drive heart disease
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Exercise helps overweight children reduce anger expression
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A scientific breakthrough on the control of the bad cholesterol
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Survival of head and neck cancer patients is greatly affected by coexisting ailments
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Genetics for personalized coronary heart disease treatment
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