Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients surviving a first hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction in the period 1995–2001 stratified by age, income and education
Age 30–64 yearsAge 65–74 years
Income tertileEducational levelIncome tertileEducational level
HighMediumLowpHighMediumLowpHighMediumLowpHighMediumLowp
Number573857235721232371997660400039903988110734537418
%33.433.333.313.541.944.633.433.333.39.228.861.9
Male (%)84.277.767.482.784.367.174.064.455.179.077.456.4
Mean age (years)53.053.756.153.953.655.168.969.670.569.569.369.8
Mean observation period (years)4.14.34.04.14.14.13.73.53.73.63.53.7
Living alone (%)19.517.335.121.920.428.028.034.330.724.925.534.5
Drug use before admission
Statins (%)4.54.25.14.54.54.74.64.83.95.15.04.1
Beta-blockers (%)9.99.911.59.810.710.414.013.714.813.514.014.4
Co-morbidity
COPD + asthma (%)1.11.84.81.42.03.45.08.59.84.96.19.0
Congestive heart failure (%)3.03.15.63.73.64.37.410.111.48.58.810.2
Arrythmia (%)3.13.43.73.33.53.37.67.58.48.67.77.8
Cerebrovascular disease (%)1.01.42.31.51.31.83.13.44.51.93.34.1
Pulmonary oedema0.10.20.50.10.20.40.70.61.00.70.90.7
Diabetes (%)5.26.910.35.56.58.97.38.510.96.28.09.7
Renal failure (%)0.40.71.20.50.61.01.01.11.21.31.31.0
Liver disease (%)0.10.10.30.30.10.20.10.10.30.20.30.1
Malignancy (%)0.50.81.10.80.80.82.32.42.12.52.42.2
Cardiogenic shock (%)0.20.20.40.10.30.30.50.50.70.30.50.6
Admitting hospital type
Cardiac care centre (%)16.215.015.119.515.214.516.514.113.818.416.413.5
Main regional hospital (%)64.361.660.962.163.661.162.560.458.060.364.258.4
Local hospital (%)19.523.423.918.521.224.521.125.528.221.319.328.1
Revascularisation§38.033.228.137.635.030.028.125.218.630.627.821.2
  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  • ∗p<0.05 in univariate test for trend between income levels or educational levels.

  • Claim of prescription within 6 months before index admission.

  • International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10 codes: COPD + asthma, J40.x-J46.x; congestive heart failure, I50.x; arrythmia, I46.x-I49.x; cerebrovascular disease, I60.x-I69.x; pulmonary oedema, J18.2, J81.x; diabetes, E10.x-E14.x; renal failure, N17.x-N19.x, I12.x, I13.x, R34.x, T85.8, T85.9, Z99.2; liver disease, K70.x-K77.x; malignancy, C00.x-C97.x; cardiogenic shock, R57.x.

  • §Coronary-artery bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 months of admission (Danish version of the Nordic Classification of Surgical Procedures: KFN.x).