Markedly changed age distribution among patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate trends in number of hospital admissions due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in different age groups during the last decade.

DESIGN

Data on all AMI hospital admissions since 1991 were analysed by gender and by age applying 5-year age groups between ages 60 and 90, and < 60 and > or = 90 as separate groups.

RESULTS

From 1991 to 2000 the number of hospital admissions for AMI was reduced by 18%. In men, AMI rates decreased in all age groups below 80 years and increased in older ages, while in women the corresponding breaking point between decreased and increased rates was 85 years. In the age group < 80 years, men and women included, the number of AMI admissions decreased by 29% (from 11,540 to 8233), while for those > or = 80 there was an increase of 25% (from 2917 to 3659). Over the decade the ratio of the numbers of AMIs in ages above and below 80 years increased from 0.25 to 0.44.

CONCLUSION

Over the last decade a striking change in age distribution among AMI patients took place, with a marked decrease in age groups below 80 years, as opposed to an equally strong increase in the oldest age groups. The development with regard to trends for AMI morbidity in society has been more favourable than what appears from overall numbers of AMIs.