Primary care management following an acute myocardial infarction

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In the UK cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second most common reason for admission to hospital, 8.4% of total admissions, specifically with 188,000 people being admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) per year.¹ Of those who attend with an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 90% are treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 90 minutes of arrival at hospital, typically the regional heart attack centre.²

It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million people in the UK have survived an AMI and there is an increased risk of death from cardiovascular causes at 5% per year.^3,4 Effective secondary prevention measures, to reduce the on-going impact of the AMI, can significantly reduce this risk. So up to date knowledge of the on-going management of such patients once discharged, is a key area of competence for primary care nurses.⁵