Table 1.

Description of studies performed

Study and Comparisons
	Trends in AMI mortality within VHA	Trends in AMI mortality within VHA and Medicare
Time Period	1/1/2004 - 9/30/2006	1/1/2000 - 6/30/2005
Study sample	All patients ≥65 years old with ICD-9-CM codes 410.xx	All patients ≥65 years old with ICD-9-CM codes 410 except 410.x2
Sample size	11,609 patients	27,494 VHA patients and 789,400 Medicare patients 789,400 Medicare patients
Data Sources
Identification of patients	Abstracted record of all patients with AMI (External Peer Review Program)	VA Patient Treatment File (PTF); Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) File Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) File
Mortality	VA Vital Status File	MedPAR; VA Vital Status File