Improvement in Long-Term Survival among Patients Hospitalized with Acute Myocardial Infarction, 1970 to 1980

Abstract
The mortality rate associated with coronary heart disease in the United States has declined steadily since 1968, but the reasons for this favorable trend have not been completely elucidated. In particular, it is not clear to what extent the decline reflects decreasing incidence as opposed to improved survival. To assess whether improved survival after myocardial infarction has contributed to the decline, the Minnesota Heart Survey compared the four-year survival rate in patients discharged with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction from hospitals in the Twin Cities area in 1970 and 1980.