[Characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction treated in Split 1982-1992]

Three thousand three hundred and fifty-two patients (70% males and 28% females) were hospitalized and treated in Split for acute myocardial infarction (hospital mortality 20%) between 1982-1992. The number of these admissions has been constantly rising from 226 in 1982 to 397 in 1992. Over 45 years of age were 3043 (90.8%) of the patients (70% males and 30% females), while 309 of them (9.2%) were under 45 (93% males, 7% females). The lethality rate was 21% in the first and 8% in the second subgroup. In patients over 45 inferior myocardial infarction was found in 35%, and in patients under 45 in 49%. In the older group there were 40% smokers, 42% hypertensives and 39% hypercholesterolemics, while there were 75% smokers, 35% hypertensives and 33% hypercholesterolemic patients in the younger age group. The results show that the number of patients treated for acute myocardial infarction in the Split region is constantly increasing (p < 0.001). In patients under 45 years of age there is significantly higher inferior infarction prevalence (p < 0.001); a larger percentage of males (p < 0.001) and smokers (p < 0.001), and lower percentage of hypertensives (p < 0.001) and hypercholesterolemic patients (p < 0.05) was observed, as well as lower hospital mortality rate (p < 0.001).