One-year mortality following MI can be significantly improved by giving patients a combination of five drug classes: aspirin, beta-blockers, statins, renin angiotensin system (RAS) blockers and thienopyridines. However, less than half of patients receive this optimal therapy, a study from Germany has shown. 'These findings should further reinforce our efforts to maximise the uptake of these drugs in our post-infarct populations. This should form a key part of cardiac rehabilitation and primary care chronic disease programmes.'