Resumo

CACCAVO, Alberto. Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Public Health Care Issue. Rev. argent. cardiol. [online]. 2010, vol.78, n.3, pp.259-263. ISSN 1850-3748.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important cause of mortality in Argentina. In-hospital mortality due to AMI is about 10% in registry participating centers. Treatment is focused on achieving reperfusion of the occluded artery with either primary angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy. However, only a few hospitals have primary angioplasty facilities and the indication of thrombolytic therapy is lower than recommended. Thrombolysis, anticoagulant drugs and antiplatelet agents should be indicated promptly and widely to reduce mortality. The health care authorities, with the support of the scientific societies, should formulate a national program to achieve a significant impact on mortality due to AMI. This program should focus on at least three issues: 1. A 12-lead electrocardiogram should be taken and interpreted as soon as possible in all patients with chest pain, even in pre-hospital settings. A centralized ECG reading service with expert physicians may give help to those health care centers that lack qualified staff. 2. Rapid reperfusion with thrombolytic therapy and/or angioplasty. Bolus fibrinolytic drugs are simpler and more efficient than streptokinase, yet they are more expensive. It is important to choose an easy-to-administrate thrombolytic agent in low-complexity centers. 3. The organization of a network to transfer the most severe cases to referral centers in fully equipped ambulances with trained staff. Possibly, 50% of AMI patients will need to be transferred due to severe congestive heart failure, failed thrombolysis or recurrent ischemia.

Palavras-chave : Myocardial Infarction; Mortality; Health Policy.

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