0000000000294805
AUTHOR
Eric Bonnefoy
Organization of intensive cardiac care units in Europe: Results of a multinational survey
Background: The present survey aims to describe the intensive cardiac care unit organization and admission policies in Europe. Methods: A total of 228 hospitals (61% academic) from 27 countries participated in this survey. In addition to the organizational aspects of the intensive cardiac care units, including classification of the intensive cardiac care unit levels, data on the admission diagnoses were gathered from consecutive patients who were admitted during a two-day period. Admission policies were evaluated by comparing illness severity with the intensive cardiac care unit level. Gross national income was used to differentiate high-income countries (n=13) from middle-income countries…
β blockers and mortality after myocardial infarction in patients without heart failure: multicentre prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE To assess the association between early and prolonged beta blocker treatment and mortality after acute myocardial infarction. DESIGN Multicentre prospective cohort study. SETTING Nationwide French registry of Acute ST- and non-STelevation Myocardial Infarction (FAST-MI) (at 223 centres) at the end of 2005. PARTICIPANTS 2679 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction and without heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mortality was assessed at 30 days in relation to early use of beta blockers (<= 48 hours of admission), at one year in relation to discharge prescription, and at five years in relation to one year use. RESULTS beta blockers were…