Improvement in life expectancy in Western populations is coupled in part to the initial fall in stroke mortality in the late 1950's and the later fall in coronary artery disease mortality of the l970's. It is generally accepted that in recent years antihypertensive, thrombolytic, and antiarrhythmic therapy plus improvements in acute care management and the use of β-adrenergic blocking agents has accelerated the decline in mortality. These findings, however, are challenged by the rising rate of hospitalisation for acute myocardial infarction at all ages in Western countries.
Relation
Cardiologia: bollettino della Società italiana di cardiologia Vol. 43, Issue 6, p. 559-570