**Section 5 Myocardial Infarction in Specific Patient Groups 99**

Preface

formed as soon as possible.

myocardial infarction.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and my‐ ocardial infarction are still the most common cause of death among adults and their preva‐ lence are increasing in the developing countries. Diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, increased emotional stress, physical inactivity and obesity are known risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular diseases. We are living in an era where deaths from metabolic disorders, including over nutrition, obesity, diabetes and hypercho‐

Myocardial infarction is one of the clinical presentations of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Silent ischemia, sudden cardiac death, and stable and unstable angina are other clinical forms. However, myocardial infarction is the dominant form and it requires quick diagnosis and accurate treatment. In recent years, there have been important advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of myocardial infarction. Today we have a very strong armamentarium when compared to the 1980s. A few decades ago, we were using only aspirin and nitrates for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. There was no in‐ terventional therapy and immediate revascularization nor strong medicines (anti-aggre‐ gants, anticoagulants, beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, statins and more). Today we have a wide spectrum of medical and inter‐ ventional therapy and thus a better prevention strategy. Since the majority of deaths occur because of ventricular fibrillation in patients experiencing a myocardial infarction today, we have automated external defibrillators at several airports, airplanes, metro-train stations, and in crowded places. It is even possible to send an AED with a drone to a place of need. Emergency medical services are also organized in order to more quickly reach the patients and to bring them to medical centres where primary percutaneous interventions can be per‐

In this book, we aimed to provide, at the beginning, epidemiological data on myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Then in the following chapters, we aimed to overview current diagnostic biochemical tools. Current management strategies and interventional therapies are also addressed. And finally we aimed to provide information on

Today, despite all advances in the management of myocardial infarction, the morbidity and mortality from atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and especially myocardial infarction are still high. Recent developments in interventional therapies established an important de‐ crease in morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction. I think that more can be ach‐ ieved by the prevention of atherosclerotic processes and efforts should be focused on the early stages of the disease since it may be very late for some of the patients experiencing

'how to manage myocardial infarction in a specific patient group; the children'.

lesterolemia are more prominent than deaths from a shortage of food.

Chapter 6 **Myocardial Infarction in Children 101** Meki Bilici, Mehmet Ture and Hasan Balik
