Aspirin and suspected myocardial infarction: a life-saving treatment we too often forget.

Short reportsAspirin and suspected myocardial infarction: a life-saving treatment we too often forget Recent studies suggest that patients with myocar- dial infarction or unstable angina may not receive lifesaving treatment.'-Aspirinreduces mortality in these patients.4This study assessed the impact of these studies on general practitioners (GPs) and, because many patients with ischaemic chest pain present directly to them, on accident and emergency (A&E) staff.Two 4-week periods (20 February to 9 March 1994 -the date of publication of references 1,2,3 and 5 with an accompanying editorial -and 20 March to 16 April) were assessed retrospectively to determine whether the practice of doctors was altered by the publication of reports which highlighted inadequacies in the management of patients with ischaemic cardiac pain.The A&E patients admitted to the coronary care unit via the A&E department were reviewed; it was noted whether aspirin was prescribed.Patients were included in the audit if they were not taking regular aspirin and were admitted to coronary care with ischaemic chest pain.Patients were excluded from analysis if there were a documented contraindication to aspirin.The two periods were compared using Fischer's exact test and the X2 test.A total of 78 patients, who were not already receiving aspirin, were admitted in the study period.Four (5%) were excluded because aspirin was contraindicated.The notes of eight patients could not be traced.The management of 66 patients was