[Variations of the pre-coronary times (1973-1977) (author's transl)].

A comparison has been made between the pre-coronary times of IMA patients in the UCIC of the S. Camillo Hospital in Rome between 1973 and 1977, and the pre-coronary times of patients in another UCIC in the same city, in order to record possible modifications. From 1973 to 1977 there has been a decrease in the pre-coronary times: this is the result of a better hospitalization policy and more frequent admission directly to the UCIC. The mortality rate according to the data in question, has also decreased from 21% in 1973 to 10% in 1977, with a marked reduction for patients with a pre-coronary time superior to 12 hours. This is also connected to the fact that there is a considerable reduction in the number of patients, generally suffering from serious complications, transferred to UCIC from other wards. From an analysis of the data we infer that there has been an improvement in the policy governing the admission of patients to UCIC, a policy which could be improved further by a more adequate training both for doctors and the population in general.