Trained emergency teams as well as the availability of newer drugs have helped more patients survive heart attacks, a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found. The study added that following guidelines could help hospitals improve the rates of survival among people suffering heart attacks.
The study involved 44,372 patients and was conducted between July 1999 and December 2006. It was carried out in 113 hospitals in 14 countries across the US, South America, East and Western Europe.
During the period, deaths from heart attacks dipped from 8.4 percent in 1999 to 4.6 percent in 2006, while new heart failure cases dropped from 19.5 percent to 11 percent.
"The changes must be due to improved treatment of patients after presentation to hospital," said lead author Dr. Keith A. A. Fox. "The improvement is due to the combined effect of better use of anti-clotting and other heart attack drugs, and greater use of angioplasty."
He added that following the latest guidelines could reduce by half the risk of patients suffering from a heart attack or a impending heart attack. Earlier studies have shown that patients getting prompt treatment might avoid going into heart failure. One of the most helpful procedures is angioplasty where a blocked artery is opened up surgically.
"By applying the benefits of existing clinical trials -- as synthesized in national and international guidelines -- huge benefits for patients can be gained, and it is possible to prevent deaths and heart failure," Fox agreed.
The American College of Cardiology recommends that patients must get angioplasty done within 90 minutes of entering hospitals.
