Forty years ago, after the establishment of coronary care units, a significant decrease in mortality of acute myocardial infarction was noted. Twenty years ago, the break-through of thrombolysis realized once again a significant decrease in mortality. In this study we compare, in a rather small community hospital, the mortality and safety of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction with a more conventional, conservative medical therapy.
We examined all cases of acute myocardial infarction between 1978 up to 1998 inclusive, concerning treatment and mortality rate after a six month period. To be included in the study, acute myocardial infarction had to fulfill particular inclusion criteria. A total of 1863 cases of acute myocardial infarction were included.
The mortality rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytic agents was strikingly lower and statistically very significantly different (p < 0.001) in comparison with the mortality rate of patients treated with heparin or coumarine derivatives.
The mortality rate dropped from 10.57% in the coumarine group and from 14.95% in the heparin group to 5.41% in the alteplase group, to 4.95% in the anistreplase group and 4.00% in the streptokinase subgroup.
The complications directly connected to the treatment did not seem to be different between the five groups, and they were also not more frequent by using thrombolytic agents.
In the last 20 years, better preventive measures (life habits, diet, medication) and trials to better control the risk factors have not influenced greatly the average amount of cholesterol in patients with an acute myocardial infarction. Also the percentage of patients with high blood pressure has hardly decreased over the last 20 years.
The mortality associated with acute myocardial infarction has decreased significantly with the use of thrombolytics. In most cases, thrombolytics are administered routinely and safely. In this way, they are the first choice therapy for myocardial infarction in smaller hospitals.
To obtain excellent coronary patency, thrombolytic agents with a long half-life and with PAI-1 resistance are required in the future.
The current measures and medical therapies seem to be insufficient to control the risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis.