Time to coronary catheterization in patients with NST-ACS and high GRACE score

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Current European guidelines recommend early (<24 hours) invasive coronary angiography (ICA) strategy in certain high-risk non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients, including those with GRACE score over 140. The evidence for this recommendation is based on older trials using pre high-sensitive troponin (HsTn) biomarkers and non-contemporary therapy. Purpose To assess the association between GRACE score over 140, timing of ICA and their interaction on clinical outcomes in patients with ACS with no ST elevation, using (HsTn) as part of the calculated GRACE risk score. Methods and results Between February 1st 2016 and July 31th 2021, 1767 patients with a primary diagnosis of NSTE-ACS without indication for urgent ICA, underwent ICA during index hospitalization. 655 (37%) patients underwent early-invasive ICA (within 24 hours) and 1112 (63%) underwent late ICA (between 24 hours and 1 week). 107 patients had a GRACE risk score of 140 or above and 1660 had a GRACE risk score under 140. The primary composite outcome was all-cause mortality, stroke, and recurrent MI. The median time from admission to ICA was 13.3 hours (IQR 6.0,20.6) for the early group and 59.9 hours for the late group (IQR 23.5,96.3). The vast majority of patients had re-vascularization (75.1%) performed, mostly by PCI (69.4%). There was no difference between the early and late ICA groups in the primary composite outcome (late Catheterization >24h HR 1.196, 95% CI 0.969-1.475, P-value 0.096). Using a multivariable cox regression model for the composite outcome revealed no difference between the early and late ICA groups (late Catheterization >24h HR 1.0735, 95% CI 0.862-1.327, P-value 0.512) with no effect for performing early ICA in patients with GRACE score over 140 (HR 1.291 95% CI 0.910-1.831, p-0.151). Conclusion Early ICA strategy in patients with NSTE-ACS patients and GRACE risk score over 140, compared with late ICA, was not associated with improved composite outcome of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke at 1 year.