Resumo

CHAVEZ DOMINGUEZ, Rafael; RAMIREZ HERNANDEZ, Jorge A  e  CASANOVA GARCES, José Miguel. Coronary heart disease in Mexico and the clinical, epidemiological and preventive relevance. Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2003, vol.73, n.2, pp.105-114. ISSN 1665-1731.

Coronary heart disease is dominant among heart diseases in the population, a problem to control. Heart diseases have been first place in the general mortality for the last 20 years. The trend show an annual increase without control. Atherosclerosis is responsible for at least for one fourth of all deaths in the country. The combined data of mortality and morbidity, from hospital discharges or the whole country, disclose that one out of three die of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). While only 8% of all deaths registered were admitted to a hospital. Most, 92% were never admitted to any hospital for some reason. The estimated annual incidence of AMI cases is 140,000, on the basis of 3 cases surviving for each case death, accounted by the Death Certification System, which rounds 35,000. Standardized mortality rates of AMI in Mexico are greater than in USA o Canada creating a more concerned worry. The most probable explanation to that situation is lack of preventive care, which should also include the acute care and before reaching the hospital facilities. Running the same chances are hypertension crisis and strokes and diabetic complications. The appropriate care for critical situations might reduce significantly the cardiovascular mortality in the country, in a short and middle term. Prevention is not only for chronic conditions but for acute and critical situations. The programs of preventive care should also include cultural promotion and community awareness. The timely care is life and myocardium saving. The reinforcement of prior to hospital care reduces the delay for AMI adequate intervention. These activities agree quite well with the ongoing programs of CPR, organizing the surviving chain and the training programs for paramedical emergency technicians. (Arch Cardiol Mex 2003; 73:105-114).

Palavras-chave : Coronary heart disease; Atherosclerosis; Acute myocardial infarction; Prehospital acute care; Epidemiology; Prevention; Health promotion.

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