Elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to a teaching hospital are more likely to survive than are those admitted to a nonteaching hospital, according to a recent study.

Among more than 100,000 Medicare patients with AMI admitted to 4,300 hospitals nationwide, candidates for aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, (ACE) or [beta]-blockers were significantly more likely to receive one of these treatments in a major teaching hospital than in a nonteaching hospital. In minor teaching hospitals (those with low intern-to-bed ratios), candidates received the drugs less frequently than did those in major teaching hospitals (those with high intern-to-bed ratios), but they still received these treatments more frequently than did patients in nonteaching hospitals. Reperfusion therapy rates did not differ significantly among the three hospital types.

Mortality rates for patients treated at minor teaching hospitals were greater than those for patients treated at major teaching hospitals but less than those for patients treated at nonteaching hospitals.

Allison JJ, et al. JAMA 2000;284(10):1256-62.