Use of early aspirin in suspected acute myocardial infarction by General Practitioners in Sri Lanka

Early low dose aspirin therapy is beneficial in myocardial infarction (MI). This study investigated the use of early aspirin therapy in patients with suspected MI by General Practitioners (GP). Patients with MI who were referred to our unit by GPs were studied to see whether aspirin therapy had been initiated before referral. A questionnaire was sent to GPs to test their attitudes and practices regarding early aspirin therapy in suspected MI. Our results indicate that few patients with MI had been given early aspirin therapy. Only a minority of GPs were aware of the benefits of early aspirin therapy in MI, and very few prescribed it. Even when it was prescribed, the dose and route of administration were wrong in most instances.