Sex and age specific time patterns and long term time trends of pre-hospital delay of patients presenting with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Prompt initiation of treatment after symptom onset of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a central goal in limiting myocardial damage because of the time-dependent nature of reperfusion therapies. We examined time patterns and long term time trends of pre-hospital delay time (PHDT) of STEMI patients.

Methods: PHDT from 3093 STEMI patients derived from the Augsburg Myocardial Infarction Registry (1985-2004) surviving >24h after admission was obtained by a standardized bedside interview.

Air temperature and the occurrence of myocardial infarction in Augsburg, Germany.

Background: Air temperature changes have been associated with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to examine in detail the registry-based myocardial infarction (MI) rates and coronary deaths in relation to air temperature in the area of Augsburg, Germany.

Methods And Results: Between 1995 and 2004, the Monitoring Trends and Determinants on Cardiovascular Diseases/Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (MONICA/KORA) registry recorded 9801 cases of MI and coronary deaths.