Background & Objectives: Different studies have reported conflicting results on increased rate of early mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in females compared to males after adjustment for age and other confounding factors. The female gender plays a crucial role in early mortality after AMI. The aim of this study was to assess the role of gender as an important key factor in early mortality after acute myocardial infarction.

 Methods: In this research, patients (80 females and 174 males) with acute myocardial infarction were studies for six months (2003-2004) in terms of risk factors of coronary artery diseases, clinical conditions at admission, treatment modalities in the hospital and at the time of discharge, clinical accidents at the hospital and mortality and during one month after acute myocardial infarction and after being discharged.

 Results: Intrahospital mortality odds ratio for females compared to males was 2 (confidence interval 95%: 0.951-4.208). Mortality odds ratio during one month after acute myocardial infarction and discharge for females compared to males was 4.586 (confidence interval 95%: 1.294-16.252). This rate after adjustment for age was 3.15 (confidence interval 95%: 0.857-11.579) and after adjustment for confounders was 5.387 (confidence interval 95%: 1.296-22.393). In severe clinical conditions females referred to hospitals with more delay compared to men. Females were treated less than males with streptokinase, aspirin, betablockers and invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures. They received calcium channel blockers and nitrate much more than males.

 Conclusions : Females in comparison with males were at higher risk for early mortality (during one month after acute myocardial infarction and discharge). Age was not considered as the most important and potential factor for this higher rate.

  Background & Objectives: Myocardial infarction is one of the most common causes of mortality throughout the world. Utilization of thrombolytic drugs at the first hours upon MI leads to decrease in the rate of mortality. Streptokinase (SK) is commonly used because of its cost and availability. The golden time for maximum effect of SK appeared to be first hours after MI. The drug efficiency diminishes after 3 hours and it will be ineffective after 12 hours.

  This study was aimed to investigate interval between onset of the clinical symptoms and streptokinase receiving in patients with acute myocardial infarction�admitted for drug reception.

  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 patients with STEMI (ST elevation Myocardial Infarction ) who were attended to emergency room of Imam Khomeini hospital and fulfilled a questionnaire containing the data about age, sex, educational level, onset of symptoms, referring time to emergency room, SK utilization, past medical history of cardiac diseases, type and location of AMI, contraindications and side effects of SK.

  Results: In 111 men (74%) and 39 women (26%), the mean for interval between onset of symptoms and drug injection was 8 hour and 27 minutes ± 8 hour and 18 minutes .Only 41% of patients received streptokinase in less than 3 hours after chest pain. The main reasons for delaying in drug consumption were delayed decision to come to hospital in 61% of persons, long distance to hospital for 22% of individuals, delayed admission tor CCU for 13% of cases and delay in physician diagnosis for 0.043% of patients. To have a male sex and residency in city where the hospital was establilished were associated with less-delayed treatment start. However, the educational level, age and history of MI were not correlated with onset of treatment.

  Conclusions: Our results clearly show that the majority of patients receipt streptokinase more than 3 hours after chest pain. With considering the factors associated with delay to receive SK, teaching the patients with ischemic heart disease and giving information about golden time for thrombolytic therapy and its effect in prognosis as well as extending cardiac disease treatment centers in suburbs are recommended.

Background & objectives: Myocardial infarction (MI) isone of the most commonly heart diseases in all countries with the mortality rate of about 30%. Reperfusion of blocked coronary arteries plays an important role in reducing mortality and enhancing the quality of life of patients after acute MI.