ABSTRACT
Coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be the leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability for both men and women in the United States (Gillum, 1993; Higgins & Thom, 1989; Manson et al., 1992). Every year, approximately 1.5 million individuals suffer from myocardial infarction (MI), which results in half a million deaths and a cost of more than $100 billion (American Heart Association, 1994). Of those patients who experience a MI, 7% to 15% will die prior to discharge from the hospital, and an additional 5% to 10% will die in the first year following their MI (Gillum, 1993; Goldberg et al., 1993; Manson et al., 1992; McGovern et al., 1992; Moss & Benhorin, 1990).
