UNDERUTILIZATION OF ASPIRIN IN OLDER PATIENTS WITH PRIOR MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION TO A NURSING-HOME

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of aspirin use in older patie nts with prior myocardial infarction at the time of admission to a nur sing home. DESIGN: In a prospective study, the prevalence of aspirin u se in 350 consecutive older patients with documented Q-wave myocardial infarction and no contraindications to aspirin use was investigated i n patients aged 60 years or older at the time of admission to a nursin g home. SETTING: A large, long-term, healthcare facility. PATIENTS: Th e patients included 231 women and 119 men, mean age 81 +/- 8 years (ra nge 60 to 100). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 350 patients wit h documented Q-wave myocardial infarction and no contraindications to aspirin therapy, 60 patients (17%) were receiving aspirin at the time of admission to the nursing home. CONCLUSION: There is a marked underu tilization of aspirin in the treatment of older patients with document ed prior myocardial infarction at the time of admission to a nursing h ome.