Outcome Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

DURING THE past 3 decades, there has been a 47% decline in age-adjusted mortality for acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the United States.¹ Clinical trials have shown that mortality from acute MI can be significantly reduced by the use of primary angioplasty,^2-7 thrombolytic therapy,^8,9 aspirin,^9,10 β-adrenergic blocking agents,^11,12 angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,^13,14 and perhaps by avoiding the use of calcium channel blockers.^15-18