Objective 

The efficacy of bêta-adrenergic blocking agents and acetylsalicylic acid in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction has been well recognized since the beginning of the 1980s.

In a previous paper, however, we reported a lower than expected use of these drugs during the period 1982-1988.

In 1989 the results of this survey were presented and discussed with the prescribing physicians.

In the present paper we describe the prescription patterns for the same indication and in the same centre over the following 6 years (1989-1994).

We also describe the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, for which efficacy in certain subgroups has been recently shown.

Methods 

Random samples of patients discharged from our hospital between 1989 and 1994 with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction with Q-wave were studied.

Information about diagnoses, other clinical variables and treatments prescribed at discharge was obtained from the hospital discharge forms.

The results were compared with those obtained in the previous study.

Results 

We studied 514 patients (80% men) with a median age of 59 years (range 31-89).

The proportions of patients prescribed bêta-adrenergic blocking agents and acetylsalicylic acid increased from 34% and 28%, respectively. in 1986-1988, to 62% and 75% in 1989-1991.

In 1994 they had reached a steady state (63% and 71%). (...)