Improved survival after acute myocardial infarction in Finland, 1974-1985

The survival of people suffering an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged 45-74 years in Finland was examined using information on hospital discharges and deaths during the period 1974-1985. There were 128,922 cases of initial AMI events, including 37,041 deaths that occurred outside hospital. The 3-day, 1-month and 1-year survival rates in 1981-1985 were 67%, 60% and 54% for males, and 73%, 65% and 58% for females. The overall risk of dying declined by 22% between 1974-1975 and 1984-1985, but this varied by age and follow-up time. The greatest decline (28%) was attained in 3-day mortality at ages 45-54 years while very little improvement occurred between the third day and the first month following the attack, possibly due to selection during the first few days. It is concluded that survival after AMI in Finland has improved substantially, and this should have affected mortality in the general population to a significant extent.