Continuous aspirin administration in patients of myocardial infraction during their hospital stay - a clinic audit

This audit was performed to check whether all patients suffering from myocardial infarction have received aspirin in dose of 160 - 325 mg during their stay in the medical ward in Mayo hospital Lahore. Objectives: The audit was performed to assess the application of ACC/AHA guidelines for management of patients with acute MI regarding administration of aspirin in a dose of 160-325 mg daily during their stay in the hospital. Criteria of audit: A dose of 160-325 mg of aspirin should be continued indefinitely daily after an attack of MI7. Standard of audit: All patients who have been diagnosed to have acute myocardial infarction should receive 160- 325 mg of aspirin daily during hospital stay and continuously thereafter. Material and methods: A retrospective audit was conducted in medical ward in Mayo hospital, Lahore in which notes of patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction from 1st Jan 2005 to 31st August 2005 were studied. Results: We found that patients included in this audit had a mean age of 56 years +/- 13.55 out of which 45 patients 84% were discharged, 2% were discharged on request, 4 % were shifted to CCU, 6% left against medical advice and 2% expired. We found out that out of 45 cases only 24.4 % of cases were given aspirin in the recommended dose of 160- 325 mg daily, 40 % of patients received only 75 mg aspirin daily, while 33.3 % of them got 150mg daily and 2.2 % of patients did not receive aspirin during their stay in the hospital.