Outcome from AMI

Unfortunately, the overall natural history of AMI is more difficult to assess; the community and pre-hospital mortality of AMI appears to have changed little since the 1960s.

It is estimated that overall mortality from AMI is between 30% and 50% with the majority of deaths occurring within two hours of symptom onset, often prior to seeking or receiving definitive treatment. The above factors have underpinned health education programmes to encourage rapid decision-making on the part of the patient to call for help. However, there is little evidence that public education campaigns reduce patient delay [7].

Click here to go to the British Heart Foundation website.