[Hospitalization of discharged patients with acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era].

The objective of the work is to assess in discharged patients with AIM data on the period of hospitalization in the intensive care unit and the total period of hospitalization and how these were influenced by stratification into patients with complicated and uncomplicated AIM and patients with a low, medium and high risk. Data on hospitalization were analyzed in 2,527 discharged patients with AIM. The median of hospitalization at intensive care units was 5 days and the mean period of hospitalization 6.35 days. The significantly longer hospitalization (p < 0.001) in patients with complicated AIM (median 6 days) as compared with patients with uncomplicated AIM (median 5 days) impliesonly a one-day longer hospitalization in patients with complicated AIM. The median of total hospitalization was 17 days and the mean period of hospitalization 17.95 days. In the majority of patients the period of hospitalization was 15 - 21 days. More than 20% are hospitalized for more than 21 days. A significant difference of the total period of hospitalization in high risk patients and patients with a medium and low risk expressed in medians is only 2 days. The majority of patients in all three sub-groups of patients with AIM is dicharged between the 15th to 21st day of hospitalization. In the period of hospitalization at intensive care units and total hospitalizatiob of different sub-groups there is no substantial difference in their health status, incl. the danger of sudden cardiac death. By reducing the total period of hospitalization in discharged patients without complications it would be possible to save a considerable percentage of costs of hospitalization. The period of hospitalization must be fixed individually in every patient. In early dicharges it is important to consider also the psychosocial impact of discharge on the patient and his relatives.