[Approach to coronary heart disease patients at a county hospital--Zabok General Hospital].

: The aim of the study was to determine health care measures taken in coronary patients hospitalized at Zabok General Hospital in order to identify the problems and accomplishments acquired during the period of observation (2000-2006). Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the world and in this area. This fact was the main reason for monitoring patients treated at Department of Internal Medicine, Zabok General Hospital with the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. Data on all patients treated for coronary heart disease from 2000 to 2006 were analyzed. Coronary disease was diagnosed on the basis of history data, clinical examination, laboratory tests for biochemical coronary markers and electrocardiogram. Depending on the diagnosis, patients were treated at Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology Department, or were referred for emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients were analyzed according to the diagnosis, age and sex, and results were graphically presented. Considering age factor, most of the patients were older than 70 and few were younger than 50. Considering sex, there were more male than female patients. The leading diagnosis was acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI) in male patients and angina pectoris in female patients. A relatively small number of STEMI patients were referred for PCI. The main reason was the fact that patients came to the hospital too late, i.e. the time elapsed from symptoms onset was too long. Another reason was rather poor organization of the invasive cardiologist teams that could perform the operation 24 hours a day. This type of the work organization was introduced in 2003 in Zagorje County, with an increase in 2004 and at the Zagreb Ring level in 2005. The treatment and approach to coronary heart disease patients at our County Hospital is the same as at University Hospitals. It has been ensured by the application of guidelines on the approach and treatment of these patients, along with the organization of invasive approach and treatment through the Croatian Society of Cardiology. Additional education of the population at large is still necessary in order to minimize the treated for coronary heart disease as our final goal.