Use of aspirin by general practitioners in suspected acute myocardial infarction

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Abstract
All patients admitted with acute chest pain by their general practitioner to one of two district general hospitals over the six months from 1 December 1991 to 31 May 1992 were entered into the study. The hospitals both serve mixed urban and rural areas in England, one in the south midlands and the other in the south east. Patients (or those accompanying them) were asked by the nursing staff about the time of onset of the chest pain and whether they had been given aspirin before admission. Times of admission to hospital and of administration of intravenous thrombolytics were also recorded. The letter accompanying the patient was examined to ascertain the general practitioner's provisional diagnosis and for evidence of whether aspirin had been given. All records were completed within 24 hours of admission. Patients were defined as having received aspirin either if they recalled having been given aspirin of if the letter accompanying them stated that it had been given.