@article {Austin895, author = {Peter C. Austin, PhD and Jack V. Tu, MD PhD and Dennis T. Ko, MD MSc and David A. Alter, MD PhD}, title = {Use of evidence-based therapies after discharge among elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction}, volume = {179}, number = {9}, pages = {895--900}, year = {2008}, doi = {10.1503/cmaj.071481}, publisher = {CMAJ}, abstract = {Background: Postdischarge use of evidence-based drug therapies has been proposed as a measure of quality of care for myocardial infarction patients. We examined trends in the use of evidence-based drug therapies after discharge among elderly patients with myocardial infarction. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in a retrospective population-based cohort that was created using linked administrative databases. We included patients aged 65 years and older who were discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of myocardial infarction between Apr. 1, 1992, and Mar. 31, 2005. We determined the annual percentage of patients who filled a prescription for statins, β-blockers and angiotensin-modifying drugs within 90 days after discharge. Results: The percentage of patients who filled a prescription for a β-blocker increased from 42.6\% in 1992 to 78.1\% in 2005. The percentage of patients who filled a prescription for an angiotensin-modifying drug increased from 42.0\% in 1992 to 78.4\% in 2005. The percentage of patients who filled a prescription for a statin increased from 4.2\% in 1992 to 79.2\% in 2005. In 2005, about half of the hospitals had rates of use for each of these therapies that were less than 80\%. The temporal rate of increase in statin use after discharge was slower among noncardiologists than among cardiologists (3.5\%{\textendash}2.8\% slower). The rate of increase was 4.8\% slower for among physicians with low volumes of myocardial infarction patients than among those with high volumes of such patients and was 5.7\% greater at teaching hospitals compared with nonteaching hospitals. Interpretation: Use of statins, β-blockers and angiotensin-modifying drugs increased from 1992 to 2005. The rate of increase in the use of these medications after discharge varied across physician and hospital characteristics.}, issn = {0820-3946}, URL = {https://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/9/895}, eprint = {https://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/9/895.full.pdf}, journal = {CMAJ} }