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...