Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy After Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

For years, anticoagulant therapy has been part of the long-term treatment of many patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction. Early reports were enthusiastic and implied that the use of anticoagulants reduced the incidence of recurrent myocardial infarction and diminished the death rate. McMichael and Parry¹have emphasized that there are two difficulties in interpreting these reports. One problem is the absence of a control group of patients selected at random. Another is an inadequate number of patients. The present Veterans Administration study was begun in 1957 because of a great need for reassessment of long-term anticoagulant therapy. This is a preliminary report of results of the study up to Oct 1, 1964. The study will continue for another 13 months. No patients have been added since Nov 1, 1963. <h3>Methods</h3> The original group of investigators consisted of representatives from eight VA hospitals, but has since been expanded to