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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2005

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Study protocol

Epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes in a Mediterranean country; aims, design and baseline characteristics of the Greek study of acute coronary syndromes (GREECS)

Authors: Christos Pitsavos, Demosthenes B Panagiotakos, Antonis Antonoulas, Spyros Zombolos, Yannis Kogias, Yannis Mantas, Peter Stravopodis, Georgia Kourlaba, Christodoulos Stefanadis, for the GREECS Study Investigators

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2005

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Abstract

Background

The present study GREECS was conducted in order to evaluate the annual incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and to delineate the role of clinical, biochemical, lifestyle and behavioral characteristics on the severity of disease. In this work we present the design, methodology of the study and various baseline characteristics of people with ACS.

Methods/Design

A sample of 6 hospitals located in Greek urban and rural regions was selected. In these hospitals we recorded almost all admissions due to ACS, from October 2003 to September 2004. Socio-demographic, clinical, dietary, psychological and other lifestyle characteristics were recorded. 2172 patients were included in the study (76% were men and 24% women). The crude annual incidence rate was 22.6 per 10,000 people and the highest frequency of events was observed in winter. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.3%. The most common discharged diagnosis for men was Q-wave MI, while for women it was unstable angina.

Discussion

This study aims to demonstrate current information about the epidemiology of patients who suffer from ACS, in Greece.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Epidemiology of acute coronary syndromes in a Mediterranean country; aims, design and baseline characteristics of the Greek study of acute coronary syndromes (GREECS)
Authors
Christos Pitsavos
Demosthenes B Panagiotakos
Antonis Antonoulas
Spyros Zombolos
Yannis Kogias
Yannis Mantas
Peter Stravopodis
Georgia Kourlaba
Christodoulos Stefanadis
for the GREECS Study Investigators
Publication date
01-12-2005
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-5-23

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