Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction: Current Physician Practice in Patient Management

A questionnaire on management of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction patients was mailed to 1,200 general practitioners, 1,200 internists, and 1,200 cardiologists. The 69% who responded managed approximately 70,000 patients with acute myocardial infarction in 1970. General practitioners saw three-fifths of these patients. Of acute myocardial infarction patients, 45% were considered to have uncomplicated infarction. Most responses were similar for general practitioners, internists, and cardiologists, who routinely hospitalized 95% of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction patients for a 21-day hospital stay. Of physicians, 97% restricted smoking, 77% restricted calories, and 71% used anticoagulants. Of patients under age 65, 87% returned to work two to four months after uncomplicated myocardial infarction.