US Pharm. 2010;35(12):102 

Despite a high frequency of cardiac risk factors, patients without known coronary artery disease presenting with acute heart attacks or ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) are rarely taking primary prevention medications, according to study findings presented at the 2010 Annual American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

The decreasing incidence of STEMI due to acute coronary thrombosis is at least partially related to increased use of primary and secondary prevention, in particular antiplatelet and lipid-lowering therapies, according to the study authors. Still, nearly 400,000 present annually with STEMI in the United States.