Cardiovascular diseases account for about half of total mortality in industrialised societies. This figure has declined only slightly and in few countries over the past few decades, which is disturbing in view of our increasing insight into long-term risk factors of coronary heart disease and the dramatic improvement in the acute therapy of its manifestations. One important reason for this is the high fatality during the initial hours of a coronary event, i.e. before medical treatment can be provided. Approximately one quarter of all patients suffering an acute cardiac event die prior to...

In 1978, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the year 2000 as the "due date" for world health. The Alma Ata declaration set the turn of the century as the target for a level of health that would permit all people of the world to lead a socially and economically productive life. ' At that (magic but arbitrary) date most infectious diseases and many chronic conditions, including diabetes and cancer, were expected to have been eradicated or at least controlled. Such predictions were based on solid foundations. In the 1 20 h century, and particularly since the 1970's, Western science...

Cardiovascular diseases account for about half of total mortality in industrialised societies. This figure has declined only slightly and in few countries over the past few decades, which is disturbing in view of our increasing insight into long-term risk factors of coronary heart disease and the dramatic improvement in the acute therapy of its manifestations. One important reason for this is the high fatality during the initial hours of a coronary event, i.e. before medical treatment can be provided. Approximately one quarter of all patients suffering an acute cardiac event die prior to...