Term: Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2014-08-05

Definition:

Also known as a heart attack, a myocardial infarction occurs when the heart muscle (the myocardium) experiences sudden (acute) deprivation of circulating blood. The interruption of blood is usually caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries leading to a blood clot. The clogging frequently is initiated by cholesterol piling up on the inner wall of the blood vessels that distribute blood to the heart muscle.

MCHP defines AMI patients by an inpatient hospital separation with a most responsible diagnosis of AMI: ICD-9-CM code = 410 or ICD-10-CA code = I21.

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