Læknablaðið - 15.12.1993, Page 9

LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
381
1992, 50 each year. The use of betablockers has
declined from 83% to 60%. There has been no
change in the use of long acting nitrates while
the use of calciumblockers has increased from
14% to 52%. Aspirin was taken by 2% in 1983
and 78% in 1992. In 1983 the combination of
betablockers and long acting nitrates was taken
by 36% and few patients were given betablockers
and calciumblockers together. In 1992 the latter
combination was common. The mean daily dose
of atenolol has decreased from 128 mg in 1983 to
47 mg in 1992 while the mean dose of diltiazem
increased from 118 mg in 1988 to 178 mg in 1992.
Each drug is dominant within its group. Drug sales
figures show an increasing role of calciumblockers
and a slowly declining role of betablockers.
Iceland is at the forefront in Europe regarding
the frequency of coronary arteriography, coronary
bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal
angioplasty.
HEIMILDIR
1. Harðarson Þ. Orsakir minnkandi kransæðadauða.
Læknablaðið 1991: 77: 135-6.
2. European Survey on Open Heart Surgery Interventional
Cardiology PTCA in 1991. Salzbury: European
Academy of Sciences and Arts, 1992.
3. Findlay IN, MacLeod K, Gillen G, et al. A double-
blind placebo-controlled comparison of verapamil,
atenolol, and their combination in patients with chronic
stable angina pectoris. Br Heart J 1987; 57: 336-43.
4. Yusuf S, Peto R, Lewis J, et al. Beta blockade during
and after myocardial infarction: An overview of the
randomized trials. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 1985; 27: 335-
71.
5. Heberden W. Some account of a disorder of the breast.
Med Trans Coll Physicians 1772; 2: 59.