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Biomedical subjects

N G Mahon

Publications and source records attributed to N G Mahon.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Management and outcome of acute myocardial infarction in older patients in the thrombolytic era.

OBJECTIVE: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in older patients. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of unselected admissions with AMI that is older than 75 years and to examine management and outcomes in this group. DESIGN: An historical cohort study of consecutive unselected admissions with AMI identified using the Hospital In Patient Enquiry (HIPE) database and validated according to MONICA criteria for definite or probable AMI. SETTING: An acute cardiac unit in a university teaching hospital/cardiac tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Of 1059 patients, 606 (57%) were older than 65 years and 309 (29.2%) were older than 75 years. Mean age in this group was 80.5 years. Hospital mortality was almost twice as high as in patients younger than 75 years (28% vs 15%, P < .001), and age was an independent predictor of short- and long-term mortality following AMI. Women constituted a significantly higher proportion of older patients. Family history of AMI and cigarette smoking were less prevalent in older patients. Mean cholesterol was lower and comorbidities were higher. Other baseline characteristics, including previous AMI, did not differ. However older patients were less likely to receive thrombolysis (13% vs 36%, P < .001), aspirin (76% vs 86%, P < .01), or beta-blockers (25% vs 51%, P < .001) and were less likely to undergo cardiac catheterization or revascularization. Only 53% were admitted to coronary care. CONCLUSION: Patients more than age 75 comprise almost one-third of patients with AMI and have a poor prognosis. Although age is an independent predictor of mortality following AMI, suboptimal management may contribute to the high mortality in these patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the management and outcome of an unselected consecutive series of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction to a tertiary referral centre. DESIGN: A historical cohort study over a three year period (1992-94) of consecutive unselected admissions with acute myocardial infarction identified using the HIPE (hospital inpatient enquiry) database and validated according to MONICA criteria for definite or probable acute myocardial infarction. SETTING: University teaching hospital and cardiac tertiary referral centre. RESULTS: 1059 patients were included. Mean age was 67 years; 60% were male and 40% female. Rates of coronary care unit (CCU) admission, thrombolysis, and predischarge angiography were 70%, 28%, and 32%, respectively. Overall in-hospital mortality was 18%. Independent predictors of hospital mortality by multivariate analysis were age, left ventricular failure, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiogenic shock, management outside CCU, and reinfarction. Hospital mortality in a small cohort from a non-tertiary referral centre was 14%, a difference largely explained by the lower mean age of these patients (64 years). Five year survival in the cohort was 50%. Only age and left ventricular failure were independent predictors of mortality at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: In unselected consecutive patients the hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction remains high (18%). Age and the occurrence of left ventricular failure are major determinants of short and long term mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

Age Factors↗