New guidelines to reduce deaths after heart attack

Updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) aim to have a significant impact in reducing premature deaths by improving the care received by hundreds of thousands of adults in England and Wales who have survived a myocardial infarction.

Produced by the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care (NCC-PC), the guideline on secondary prevention of MI replaces NICE’s previous guideline published in 2001. It updates recommendations on the use of drugs after a heart attack, ensuring they are based on the most current evidence.

Unlike the previous guidance, the new document also contains recommendations on the “lifestyle” advice that should be given to patients, such as giving up smoking, being physically active for 20-30 minutes a day and eating a Mediterranean-style diet.