Myocardial infarction: hospital and home management in Northern Ireland

Some 262 general practitioners in the Belfast area were asked to complete a questionnaire about their attitudes and practice regarding the management of myocardial infarction at home. Of the 211 responders, only nine per cent would sometimes consider home care for patients under 65 years of age, although 55 per cent would sometimes consider home care for those over 65 years and three per cent preferred home management for this age group. In the year preceding this study, seven per cent of these general practitioners treated only 22 myocardial infarction patients under 65 years of age at home (two per cent of all cases in the area). Home care for myocardial infarction patients appears to be less popular in Belfast than in other parts of the United Kingdom. The views of the general practitioners concerning home care are discussed.