Medical management of acute myocardial infarction in Ireland: information from the Second International Study of Infarct Survival (ISIS-2).

We report the management of the 831 patients from 18 hospitals which constituted the Irish component of the 17,183 subjects enrolled in the ISIS-2 trial which studied the effects of streptokinase infusion and aspirin therapy given to patients presenting within 24 hours of the onset of suspected acute myocardial infarction. 34% of Irish patients (IP) presented for treatment within 4 hours of the development of symptoms. This compared to 44% of the overall group (OG) (p less than 0.001). This represented the lowest percentage of patients presenting within 4 hours in any of the participating countries. The mean delay time from onset of symptoms was 7.9 hours in IP compared to 6.9 in OG (p less than 0.001). The mean delay time in Ireland was longer than the mean delay time in any of the participating countries. The mean age and systolic blood pressure at presentation was similar in both groups. It was planned to treat 12% IP with aspirin compared to 10% OG (p-NS), and 71% IP with subcutaneous heparin compared with 47% OG (p less than 0.001). Intravenous heparin was planned treatment in 20% IP and 24% OG (p less than 0.01). Planned oral anticoagulant therapy was similar in both groups (p-NS). Planned use of intravenous betablockers occurred in only 2% IP and 6% OG (p less than 0.001). 9% IP and 22% OG received steroids before streptokinase infusion (p less than 0.001). 65% IP and 47% OG received subcutaneous heparin (p less than 0.001). The use of intravenous heparin and oral anticoagulants was similar in IP and OG (p-NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)