Patients with myocardial infarction in 1981-2 had significantly better three-year survival compared to those in 1966-7 (86% vs 75%), despite having more severe infarctions.
Cohort (n=394)
Did three-year survival rates after myocardial infarction improve between 1966-7 and 1981-2 in Auckland?
Improved three-year survival after myocardial infarction contributed to the overall decline in coronary heart disease mortality between the late 1960s and early 1980s in Auckland.
Absolute Event Rate: 86% vs 75%
Mortality from coronary heart disease has been declining steadily over the past 20 years in Auckland. The possibility that improved survival contributed to this decline was examined in patients who survived four weeks after myocardial infarction, changes in the severity of the disease being controlled for. Patients who had had myocardial infarction in 1966-7 (191 patients) or 1981-2 (203) were compared to determine whether three year survival rates had changed and the severity of the disease altered. With a coronary prognostic index taken as the measure of severity the 1981-2 group had significantly more severe myocardial infarctions than the 1966-7 group, but despite this the three year survival was significantly better (86% in the 1981-2 group v 75% in the 1966-7 group). These findings suggest that improved survival after myocardial infarction contributed to the decline in mortality.
Stewart et al. (1988) conducted a cohort in Myocardial infarction (n=394). 1981-2 cohort vs. 1966-7 cohort was evaluated on Three year survival. Patients with myocardial infarction in 1981-2 had significantly better three-year survival compared to those in 1966-7 (86% vs 75%), despite having more severe infarctions.