Variability in the in-hospital management of acute myocardial infarction in Spain.: IBERICA Study (Investigacion, Busqueda Especifica y Registro de Isquemia Coronaria Aguda)

Introduction and objective. Although some in-hospital studies have described the management of acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients in Spain, none has been able to guarantee the exhaustiveness of patient registry. This study sought to determine the clinical characteristics and in-hospital management of patients with MI in eight Spanish population registries. Methods. The IBERICA study is a population-based Mt registry carried out in the 25 to 74 year-old population, in eight Spanish regions in 1997. A standardized methology was used to register and investigate all MI arriving alive to a hospital. Clinical characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors prevalence, pharmacological treatment, invasive and noninvasive procedures performed and complications at 28 days of evolution were recorded. A descriptive analysis was performed and the Variation coefficient (VC) was calculated. Results. In 1997, 4,041 MI patients were registered, 79.9% were men with a mean age of 61.1 years. Although 10.9% (95% CI: 9.9-11.9%) were not admitted to the coronary care unit. a large variability existed among different areas (VC = 53%). There was a high variability in the utilization and performance of non-invasive and invasive procedures among regions, as well as in the use of pharmacological treatment. Only the use of antiaggregants (91.5%) and thrombolytic theraphy (41.8%) showed a low variability (VC < 10%). Twenty-eight day mortality was 16.2% (95% CI: 15.1-17.4%) with a high variability being observed among the different regions (VC = 20.6%). Conclusion. Patient characteristics vary among the different Spanish regions. The differences in management and prognosis suggest a lack of equality in the hearth care provided to MI patients in the different regions in Spain.