Myocardial infarction at the border of two centuries: demographic and social tendencies

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the incidence, onset, and the course of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among the population of Tomsk in 1984 and 2013. Materials and Methods: The study was based on the analytic database of the World Health Organization epidemiology program AMI Registry (RAMI). Epidemiology of AMI was studied among the urban population aged 20 years and older. A total of 739 and 983 AMI cases were analyzed in 1984 and 2013 respectively. Results: The proportion ofpatients older than 60 years significantly increased in the age structure of AMI patients during the study period. The occurrence of AMI with atypical clinical onset increased by three times; anamnestic background of AMI worsened; and the number of episodes with preinfarction angina increased. Analysis of the AMIpicture revealed an increase in the occurrence of Q (QS)-wave myocardial infarction and a significant rise in the frequency of complications; the frequency of chronic heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and recurrent AMI was especially high. Conclusion: An increase in the proportion of elderly and senile people in the age structure resulted in an aggravation of the diagnostic and prognostic features of AMI during the study period. Evidently, the existing situation requires optimization of medical assistance for patients of older age groups with emphasis on the development and the implementation of recommendations concerning the prediction, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of these patients.