Current status of acute myocardial infarction in Korea

Coronary artery disease, especially acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is a leading cause of death in the Asia-Pacific region. The Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) is the first nationwide, prospective, multicenter registry of Korean patients with AMI. Since the KAMIR first began in November 2005, more than 70,000 patients have been enrolled, and 230 papers have been published (as of October 2018). Moreover, published data from the KAMIR have revealed different characteristics from those of Western AMI registries regarding risk factors, interventional strategies, and clinical outcomes. As a result, the KAMIR study has improved the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention and reduced mortality. We propose the use of the KAMIR score in the prediction of 1-year mortality. Using data from the KAMIR, we provide an overview of the current status of AMI in Korea, including trends in demographic characteristics, risk factors, medications, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes.