Epidemiologic characteristics of patients with myocardial infarct in the region of Split during the period of war in the homeland

: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of myocardial infarction (MI) incidence regarding the age, gender, infarction site and the most important risk factors. Between 1989 and 1997 there were 3454 patients hospitalized in coronary care units of Clinical Hospital Split. In the three-year period preceding the war, from 1989-1991, 1024 patients were hospitalized because of MI. During the three years of full was activities, from 1992-1994, there were 1257 patients (significantly more, p 0.05). The patients over 45 had significantly higher hospital mortality (21 vs. 4%, p < 0.001), and were more likely to have hypertension (51 vs. 15%, p < 0.001) as well as hypercholesterolemia (54 vs. 14%, p < 0.001). Smokers were more prevalent among those under the 45 (75 vs. 51%, p < 0.001). The number of hospitalized patients with MI was the greatest during the war period. It included significant increase in incidence in men under 45 (12 vs. 7%, p < 0.05), with smoking as the most important risk factor, especially for infarctions of inferior site.