Pharmacological profile of survivors of acute myocardial infarction at Turkish academic hospitals

Aim: The purpose of this study was to document treatment profiles in 850 pa tients surviving acute myocardial infarction at 17 academic hospitals in Tu rkey. Methods and results: Pharmacological management data of acute myocard ial infarction survivors were collected and divided into three categories: drugs which patients received before hospitalization, during the hospitaliz ation, and at hospital discharge. Data regarding medical history, complicat ions during hospitalization, MI extent (Q wave or non-Q wave), infarct loca tion and diagnostic and revascularization procedures were also recorded. Th is study is based on the 850 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for i nitial acute MI in the period examined. Among 850 patients with myocardial infarction enrolled 408 (48%) received thrombolytic therapy. The median tim e interval from symptom onset to initiation of thrombolytic therapy was 196 min. The most commonly used thrombolytic agent was streptokinase (93%). Th rombolytic recipients were younger, and presented sooner after onset of sym ptoms. Among patients receiving thrombolytic therapy, concomitant pharmacot herapy included aspirin (95%), intravenous heparin (93%), intravenous nitro glycerin (91%), oral beta-blockers (44%), calcium channel antagonists (13%) , and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (41%). The lipid lowering th erapy was only used in 4% of all patients, and was given to 18% of patients with hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: Current usage rates of thrombolytic thera py in Turkey are lower than expected, but when compared with previous repor ts it increased. Although adjunctive treatment with intravenous heparin and intravenous nitroglycerin is usually used, beta-blockers appear to be unde rused and calcium channel blockers appear to be overused. The lipid reducin g therapies were infrequently prescribed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.