(June 1, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

Treating heart attack patients in a timely manner after they reach hospital can help save lives, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information on heart attacks:

•    It is a condition in which the blood flow to the heart is reduced or cut off completely

•    It is usually caused by the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that feed the heart

•    The longer the blood supply is cut off, the greater the risk of permanent damage to the heart muscle

Researchers from the Quebec Healthcare Assessment Agency evaluated the care of heart attack patients treated in one of 80 Quebec Hospitals during a six month period in 2006/2007. The investigators looked at the type of treatment these patients received as well as how quickly it was delivered and determined how these impacted on the patients’ outcomes after one month and one year.

Nearly 2,000 patients were given treatments designed to return blood flow to the heart in the form of either drugs that dissolve blood clots or invasive procedures that use a balloon-tipped catheter to open blocked vessels. More than half the patients, however, received these treatments in an untimely manner, meaning it took longer for them to receive the treatment than is currently recommended by professional guidelines. The risk of dying during the month following the heart attack was more than double among those who received untimely treatment, compared with those who received treatment within the recommended time frame. Untimely treatment was also associated with an increased risk of death or readmission to hospital for heart-related problems during the first year following the attack.

Today’s research highlights the need for heart attacks to be treated in a timely manner.