P.12 Acute myocardial infarction - Figure 1 presents the crude in-hospital mortality rate for AMI (with 95% Cls), in addition to the number of patient discharges, for the period 2014–2023. There was a statistically significant reduction in the in-hospital mortality rate for AMI over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2023. It decreased from 58.1 deaths per 1,000 discharges in 2014 to 46.5 deaths per 1,000 discharges in 2023 (p = 0.004). There was a small decrease from 48.9 deaths per 1,000 discharges in 2022 to 46.5 deaths per 1,000 discharges in 2023. However, this decrease is not statistically significant (p = 0.54). The supporting table of figures for crude mortality can be found on the NOCA website. Professor Ronan Margey stated that the current NAHM model reassuringly demonstrates a continued downward trend in in-hospital mortality from AMI, which has seen a steady decrease since the 1970s. For the most part, the decrease is due to a reduction in smoking, improvements in treatment of recognised risk factors for coronary heart disease (such as elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure), and improvements in acute hospital care for heart attack (Bennett et al., 2006). In the 1970s, 65% of adults in Ireland were active smokers, compared with 17% in 2024 (Healthy Ireland, 2024). Improvements in the recognition of and treatments for other risk factors in the population have also had an impact on the management of high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

P.24 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a life-shortening condition and is one of the most common respiratory diseases in Irish adults. It usually affects people aged over 35 years. The disease affects the lungs and is most commonly caused by tobacco smoke, resulting in tissue destruction and airway damage, which often causes a cough and breathlessness. Ireland has an extremely high rate of hospitalisation for COPD in adults..