Acute Coronary Intervention Research Articles

Emergency Department Bypass for ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Identified With a Prehospital Electrocardiogram

Background— For patients identified before hospital arrival with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, bypassing the emergency department (ED) with direct transport to the catheterization laboratory may shorten reperfusion times. Methods and Results— We studied 12 581 ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients identified with a prehospital ECG treated at 371 primary percutaneous coronary intervention–capable US hospitals participating in the Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get With The Guidelines, including those participating in the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline program from 2008 to 2011. Reperfusion times with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and in-hospital mortality rates were compared between patients undergoing ED evaluation and those bypassing the ED. ED bypass occurred in 1316 patients (10.5%). These patients had a lower frequency of heart failure and shock on presentation and nonsystem reasons for delay in percutaneous coronary intervention. ED bypass occurred more frequently during working hours compared with off-hours (18.3% versus 4.3%); ED bypass rate varied significantly across hospitals (median, 3.3%; range, 0%–71%). First medical contact to device activation time was shorter (median, 68 minutes [interquartile range, 54–85 minutes] versus 88 minutes [interquartile range, 73–106 minutes]; P <0.0001) and achieved within 90 minutes more frequently (80.7% versus 53.7%; P <0.0001) with ED bypass. The unadjusted in-hospital mortality rate was lower among ED bypass patients (2.7% versus 4.1%; P =0.01), but the adjusted mortality risk was similar (adjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–1.03; P =0.07). Conclusions— Among ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients identified with a prehospital ECG, the rate of ED bypass varied significantly across US hospitals, but ED bypass occurred infrequently and was mostly isolated to working hours. Because ED bypass was associated with shorter reperfusion times and numerically lower mortality rates, further exploration of and advocacy for the implementation of this process appear warranted.

Circulation : Clinical Summaries

<i>Circulation</i> : Clinical Summaries

ED administration of thienopyridines in non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results from the NCDR

ObjectiveAmerican Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend that patients with definite unstable angina or non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) receive dual antiplatelet therapy on presentation to the hospital when undergoing early invasive management or “as soon as possible” after admission when being managed conservatively. The guidelines do not specify whether these medications should be administered in the emergency department (ED). Our aim was to determine whether ED administration of a thienopyridine was associated with clinical outcomes among patients with NSTEMI. MethodsWe examined thienopyridine use in 39454 patients with NSTEMI who received a thienopyridine within 24 hours of presentation in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network–Get With The Guidelines Registry from January 2007 to June 2010. Patients who were not seen initially in the ED, were transferred in, or were missing time data were excluded. We analyzed the association between ED administration of thienopyridines and outcomes and patient demographics. ResultsOf the cohort receiving a thienopyridine within 24 hours, 9534 (24.2%) received it in the ED. Emergency department administration of a thienopyridine was not associated with in-hospital major bleeding (multivariable adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.09) or in-hospital mortality (adjusted 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.20). Independent predictors most strongly associated with ED thienopyridine administration were elevated troponin, ED length of stay, prior percutaneous coronary intervention, and initial electrocardiogram showing ischemic changes. ConclusionsThere was no association between ED thienopyridine administration and in-hospital major bleeding or mortality. Emergency department length of stay, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated troponin were associated with ED thienopyridine administration.

Intracoronary abciximab and local anti-inflammatory effects

To the Editor:We have read with great interest the article by De Rosa et al., in re-lation to a meta-analysis of clinical trials on the use of intracoronaryabciximab [1]. In our opinion, the author's state in the discussiononly one possible potential mechanism by which the intracoronaryabciximab obtains better results compared to intravenously, a higherdegree of GP IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy and a more pronounced plate-let inhibition. We would like to point out another possible mechanismthat can account for the potential clinical benefits observed in pa-tients receiving intracoronary abciximab, the local anti-inflammatoryproperties.Platelets are a central cellular component in both thrombotic andinflammatory processes characteristic of coronary atherosclerosis.Platelets modulate inflammatory processes by binding to and alteringleukocyte function [2]. In addition to forming circulating aggregateswith leukocytes, platelets regulate inflammation by secreting a va-riety of inflammatory modulators, including CD40 ligand (CD40L).CD40L is an essential component in the pathophysiology of athero-sclerosis and platelets are the predominant source of circulating solu-ble CD40L (sCD40L) [3].Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists (abciximab, eptifibatide, tirofiban)have been reported to inhibit the release of sCD40L and plateletaggregation initially in vitro and, afterward, in clinical studies [4].Morespecifically, abciximab reduced circulating sCD40L and leukocyte–platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome under-going percutaneous coronary intervention [5]. Moreover, in patientswith ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percuta-neous coronary intervention, results from our group have shown thatintracoronary bolus administration of abciximab was associated withalargerdecreaseinsCD40Llevelscomparedwithstandardintravenousbolus [6]. Therefore, we believe that the rationale of intracoronaryabciximab use is based not only on its dose-dependent antiplatelet,antithromboticeffectbutalsoonitslocalanti-inflammatoryproperties.AcknowledgmentsThe authors of this manuscript have certified that they complywith the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journalof Cardiology.References

Management and outcomes of patients presenting with STEMI by use of chronic oral anticoagulation: results from the GRACE registry

To describe the characteristics, treatment, and mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by use of chronic oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy. Using data from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (GRACE), patient characteristics, treatment, and reperfusion strategies of STEMI patients on chronic OAC are described, and relevant variables compared with patients not on chronic OAC. Six-month post-discharge mortality rates were evaluated by Cox proportional hazard models. Of 19,094 patients with STEMI, 574 (3.0%) were on chronic OAC at admission. Compared with OAC non-users, OAC users were older (mean age 73 vs. 65 years), more likely to be female (37 vs. 29%), were more likely to have a history of atrial fibrillation, prosthetic heart valve, venous thromboembolism, or stroke/transient ischaemic attack, had a higher mean GRACE risk score (166 vs. 145), were less likely to be Killip class I (68 vs. 82%), and were less likely to undergo catheterization/percutaneous coronary intervention (52 vs. 66%, respectively). Of the patients who underwent catheterization, fewer OAC users had the procedure done within 24 h of admission (56.5 vs. 64.5% of OAC non-users). In propensity-matched analyses (n=606), rates of in-hospital major bleeding and in-hospital and 6-month post-discharge mortality were similar for OAC users and OAC non-users (2.7 and 3.7%, p=0.64; 15 and 13%, p=0.56; 15 and 12%, p=0.47, respectively), rates of in-hospital recurrent myocardial infarction (8.6 and 2.0%, p<0.001) and atrial fibrillation (32 and 22%, p=0.004) were higher in OAC patients, and rates of 6-month stroke were lower (0.6 and 4.3%, p=0.038). Patients in both groups who underwent catheterization had lower mortality than those who did not undergo catheterization. This is the largest study to describe the characteristics and treatment of STEMI patients on chronic OAC. The findings suggest that patients on chronic OAC are less likely to receive guideline-indicated management, but have similar adjusted rates of in-hospital and 6-month mortality.

Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients With Non–ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing an Invasive Strategy According to Hemoglobin Levels

The benefit of an invasive strategy in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was established from randomized trials that included few anemic patients. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics, therapies, and mortality of patients with NSTEMIs who undergo an invasive strategy in relation to their admission hemoglobin levels. Data from 73,067 patients with NSTEMIs who underwent cardiac catheterization and who were captured by the Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With the Guidelines (ACTION-GWTG) were examined. Patients were divided into 3 hemoglobin groups on the basis of initial hemoglobin level: (1) <10 g/dl, (2) 10 to 12 g/dl, or (3) >12 g/dl. Patients with hemoglobin <10 g/dl had more co-morbidities and more 3-vessel coronary artery disease at catheterization compared with those with hemoglobin >12 g/dl (46.2% vs 33.9%, all p values <0.0001). They received fewer acute antithrombotic therapies, less often underwent revascularization (57.4% vs 74.1%), and had higher rates of red blood cell transfusion before catheterization (32.1% vs 0.3%, all p values <0.0001). After adjustment, in-hospital mortality was inversely associated with initial hemoglobin, with a 7% increase for each 1 g/dl decrease in hemoglobin lower than 15 g/dl (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.11). In conclusion, in patients presenting with NSTEMIs and managed with an invasive strategy, a lower hemoglobin level is associated with more extensive coronary artery disease, less use of revascularization and evidence-based therapies, and increased mortality.

Intracoronary reopro during percutaneous coronary intervention in acute and stable patient can influence stent thrombosis formation (IRPASST) study

Background:In patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing coronary angioplasty, abciximab reduces major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Most clinical trials have studied mainly intravenous administration. Intracoronary (IC) bolus application of abciximab causes very high local drug concentrations and may be more effective in reducing acute and sub-acute stent thrombosis (ST). We studied whether IC bolus administration of abciximab is associated with a reduced ST and target vessels revascularization (TVR); therefore, less MACE rate compared with the standard intravenous IV bolus and infusion application.Materials and Methods:This was a single-center observational study conducted between June 2007 and 2009. We studied a total of 447 patients admitted with either acute coronary intervention (PCI) and stenting. Patients with bleeding disorder, recent major surgery and high blood pressure were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n = 199) patient received IC bolus of abciximab (reopro) 0.25 μg/kg during the PCI in cath lab. Group II (n = 248) received the standard dose of reopro-a bolus intravenous 0.25 μg/kg and maintenance dose of 0.125 μg/kg over 12 h.Results:There were no differences between the groups with regard to diabetes mellitus, group I (56%) vs. group II (58%), P = 0.613; ACS, group I (38%) vs. group II (44%), P = 0.175; Dietthylstilbestrol Drug eluted stent (DES) in group I (66.5%) vs. (57.6%) group II, P = 0.056; Bare Metal Stent (BMS) in group I (33%) vs. (40.7%) group II, P=0.093; target vessel revascularization (TRV) was seen in 9 patients (4%) in group I vs. 16 patients (6%) in group II. ST elevation was seen in 4 patients (2%) in group I vs. 7 patients (2.8%) in group II, all presented with STEMI.Conclusion:In this study, there was a trend toward less ST and TVR in patients who received IC reopro vs. intravenous route both in ACS and stable CAD. The percentage of DM was high in both groups (56%), especially in Saudi patients. In-stent restenosis (ISR) was less in group I than in group II, this was mainly associated with BMS usage. The percentage of BMS was more than 30% in both groups, either due to STEMI cases or large vessel size. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to further assess IC application of abciximab in reducing ST.

Impact of intravenous heparin on quantification of circulating microRNAs in patients with coronary artery disease.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are detectable in plasma and serum. Circulating levels of microRNAs have been measured in various studies related to cardiovascular disease. Heparin is a potential confounder of microRNA measurements due to its known interference with polymerase chain reactions. In this study, platelet-poor plasma was obtained from patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation for diagnostic coronary angiography, or for percutaneous coronary intervention, both before and after heparin administration. Heparin had pronounced effects on the assessment of the exogenous C. elegans spike-in control (decrease by approx. 3 cycles), which disappeared 6 hours after the heparin bolus. Measurements of endogenous microRNAs were less sensitive to heparin medication. Normalisation of individual microRNAs with the average cycle threshold value of all microRNAs provided a suitable alternative to normalisation with exogenous C. elegans spike-in control in this setting. Thus, both the timing of blood sampling relative to heparin dosing and the normalisation procedure are critical for reliable microRNA measurements in patients receiving intravenous heparin. This has to be taken into account when designing studies to investigate the relation of circulating microRNAs to acute cardiovascular events or coronary intervention.

Czy możliwa jest dalsza poprawa wyników leczenia ostrych zespołów wieńcowych?

Successful treatment of myocardial infarction related to early reperfusion therapy has caused growing interest in not only ischemic but also myocardial reperfusion injury. Most experimentally confirmed preservation myocardial reperfusion injury methods have failed in clinical practice. Probably one reason for their ineffectiveness was the very narrow “time window” necessitating application of protective methods before obtaining reperfusion. Reducing the myocardial necrosis and preservation of the left ventricular function are the main goals of the therapy. Experimental data suggest that up to 50% of the infarct size may be related to reperfusion injury. Function of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in the inner mitochondrial membrane, being closed during myocardial ischemia and opening at the beginning of reperfusion, is the common element linking protective methods. Their opening gives rise to metabolic alterations and may lead to cardiomyocyte death (lethal reperfusion injury). That is why successful intervention, very difficult to achieve, has to take precedence over coronary blood flow restoration. Cyclosporin A, an mPTP blocker, was effective in the first small clinical trial in preservation of myocardial reperfusion injury in acute coronary syndrome intervention. Second mitochondrial injury action is related to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anions. Reactive oxygen species accumulation results in mitochondrial pH increase leading to mPTP opening. Discovery of a small molecule cationic peptide, readily penetrating cell membranes and concentrating in mitochondria, may give new therapy perspectives. Combining therapy may be possible as well.

The Impact of a Statewide Pre-Hospital STEMI Strategy to Bypass Hospitals Without Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Capability on Treatment Times

The ultimate treatment goal for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is rapid reperfusion via primary percutaneous intervention (PCI). North Carolina has adopted a statewide STEMI referral strategy that advises paramedics to bypass local hospitals and transport STEMI patients directly to a PCI-capable hospital, even if a non-PCI-capable hospital is closer. We assessed the adherence of emergency medical services to this STEMI protocol, as well as subsequent associations with patient treatment times and outcomes by linking data from the Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry(®)-Get With the Guidelines(™) and a statewide emergency medical services data system from June 2008 to September 2010 for all patients with STEMI. Patients were divided into those (1) transported directly to a PCI hospital, thereby bypassing a closer non-PCI hospital and (2) first taken to a closer non-PCI center and later transferred to a PCI hospital. Among 6010 patients with STEMI, 1288 were eligible and included in our study cohort. Of these, 826 (64%) were transported directly to a PCI facility, whereas 462 (36%) were first taken to a non-PCI hospital and later transferred. In a multivariable model, increase in differential driving time and cardiac arrest were associated with a lesser likelihood of being taken directly to a PCI center, whereas a history of PCI was associated with a higher likelihood of being taken directly to a PCI center. Patients sent directly to a PCI center were more likely to have times between first medical contact and PCI within guideline recommendations. We found that patients who were sent directly to a PCI center had significantly shorter time to reperfusion.

Walking Beyond the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) Model in the Death Risk Stratification During Hospitalization in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: What Do the AR-G (ACTION [Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network] Registry and GWTG [Get With the Guidelines] Database), NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry), and EuroHeart Risk Scores Provide?

This study sought to compare the in-hospital prognostic values of the original and updated GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) risk score (RS) and the AR-G (ACTION [Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network] Registry and the GWTG [Get With the Guidelines] Database) RS in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). To evaluate the utility of recalculating risk after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with newer RS models (NCDR [National Cardiovascular Data Registry] and EHS [EuroHeart Score] RS). Defined in 2003, GRACE is among the most popular systems of risk stratification in ACS. An updated version of GRACE has since appeared and new RS have been developed, aiming to improve risk prediction. From 2004 to 2010, 4,497 consecutive patients admitted to a single center in Spain with an ACS were included (32.1% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 19.2% unstable angina). Discrimination (C-statistic) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow [HL]) indexes were used to assess performance of each RS. A comparative analysis of RS designed to predict post-PCI mortality NCDR and EHS RS versus the GRACE and AR-G RS was performed in a subgroup of 1,113 consecutive patients included in the study. There were 265 in-hospital deaths (5.9%). Original and updated GRACE RS and the AR-G RS all demonstrated good discrimination for in-hospital death (C-statistics: 0.91, 0.90 and 0.90, respectively) with optimal calibration (HL p: 0.42, 0.50, and 0.47, respectively) in all spectra of ACS, according to different managements (PCI vs. conservative) and without significant differences between the 3 different RS. In patients undergoing PCI, EHS and NCDR RS (C-statistic = 0.80 and 0.84, respectively) were not superior to GRACE RS (C-statistic = 0.91), albeit in the subgroup of patients undergoing PCI who were categorized as high risk using the GRACE RS, both EHS and NCDR have contributed to decrease the false positive rate generated by using the GRACE RS. Despite having been developed over 8 years ago, the GRACE RS still maintains its excellent performance for predicting in-hospital risk of death among ACS patients.

Risk of Heart Failure Complication During Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Contemporary Population

Background— Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure (HF) are subject to higher mortality during the index hospitalization. Early risk prediction and intervention may help prevent HF-related morbidity and mortality. Methods and Results— We examined 77 675 ST-elevation MI and 110 128 non-ST-elevation patients with MI without cardiogenic shock or HF at presentation treated at 609 hospitals in Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry (ACTION) Registry-Get With The Guidelines between January 1, 2007, and March 31, 2011. Logistic regression identified patient characteristics associated with development of in-hospital HF. Overall, 3.8% of patients with MI developed in-hospital HF, which was associated with higher mortality in both ST-elevation MI and non-ST elevation MI. In multivariable logistic regression, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30%, prior HF, diabetes mellitus, female sex, ST-elevation MI, and hypertension (all P &lt;0.005) were independently associated with in-hospital HF. Patients who developed HF during non-ST-elevation MI were more likely to be medically managed without catheterization (30% versus 13% with HF, P &lt;0.0001) or had longer delays to surgical or percutaneous revascularization. Patients with ST-elevation MI and HF were less likely to receive primary percutaneous coronary revascularization (84% versus 79% with HF, P &lt;0.0001), and more likely to receive thrombolytic therapy (14% versus 11%; P =0.0001). Conclusions— Patients with MI who develop HF during hospitalization have a higher risk clinical profile and greater mortality, but may be less likely to receive revascularization in a timely fashion. Targeting these highest risk patients may improve outcome post-MI.

Oxidation-Specific Biomarkers, Prospective 15-Year Cardiovascular and Stroke Outcomes, and Net Reclassification of Cardiovascular Events

This study sought to assess the long-term predictive value and net reclassification for risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) of biomarkers reflecting oxidation-specific epitopes (OSEs). OSEs are immunogenic, proinflammatory, and proatherogenic. The long-term predictive value and net reclassification of OSEs for risk of CVD events are not known. Oxidized phospholipids on apolipoprotein B-100 (OxPL/apoB) and immunoglobulin (Ig)-G (IgG) and IgM autoantibodies to malondialdehyde-modified, low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and copper-oxidized LDL (Cu-OxLDL) were measured in 765 subjects in 1995 and 656 subjects in 2000 in the Bruneck study, representing 45- to 84-year-old men and women from the general community. Over 15 years of follow-up, 138 subjects reached the primary endpoint of incident CVD (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, new-onset unstable angina, acute coronary interventions, and vascular death). In a multivariable Cox model, the highest tertile of OxPL/apoB was associated with higher risk of CVD (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 3.7) and stroke (HR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.8 to 7.4) compared with the lowest tertile. IgG Cu-OxLDLs were associated with higher risk of CVD, whereas IgM MDA-LDLs were associated with lower risk. Using OxPL/apoB, IgG Cu-OxLDL, and IgM MDA-LDL variables, the area under the curve (AUC) for CVD risk prediction increased from 0.664 (95% CI: 0.629 to 0.697) to 0.705 (95% CI: 0.672 to 0.737) (p = 0.048). The net reclassification index (NRI) was 0.163 (p = 0.0044) and 0.332 (p < 0.0001) in all subjects (n = 765) and in subjects with intermediate risk (n = 305), respectively. Of 627 subjects who remained free of CVD, 108 were correctly reclassified to a lower risk category, and 83 were reclassified to a higher category (categories: 15-year risk <15%, 15% to 30%, >30%). OSE biomarkers predict 15-year CVD and stroke outcomes and provide potential clinical utility by reclassifying a significant proportion of individuals into higher or lower risk categories after traditional risk assessment.

Modern antiplatelet agents in coronary artery disease

Dual antiplatelet therapy is well recognized in the prevention of thrombotic complications of acute coronary syndrome and percutaneous coronary interventions. Despite clinical benefits of aspirin and clopidogrel therapy, a number of limitations curtail their efficacy: slow onset of action, variability in platelet inhibitory response and potential drug–drug interactions. Furthermore, the single platelet-activation pathway targeted by these agents allows continued platelet activation via other pathways, ensuring incomplete protection against ischemic events, thus, underscoring the need for alternate antiplatelet treatment strategies. A number of novel antiplatelet agents are currently in advance development and many have established superior effects on platelet inhibition, clinical outcomes and safety profile than clopidogrel in high-risk patients. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of P2Y12 receptor inhibition and PAR-1 antagonists in determining a future strategy for individualized antiplatelet therapy.

Limitations of using cardiac catheterization rates to assess the quality of care for patients with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

An early invasive management strategy is recommended for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who do not have a contraindication to cardiac catheterization (CCC). However, the frequency of CCC reporting has not been delineated, and the relationship of CCC reporting to hospital-level guidelines adherence for NSTEMI has not been investigated. We used the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With The Guidelines database to evaluate variations in hospital-level reporting of CCC for 111,320 patients with NSTEMI admitted to 370 hospitals with revascularization capabilities in the United States from 2007 to 2010 and how these variations were associated with guideline adherence and in-hospital mortality. Hospitals were grouped into tertiles based on rates of reported CCCs. Treatment patterns and in-hospital mortality rates were evaluated across hospital tertiles separately for patients with and without a reported CCC. A total of 18,290 (16.4%) of 111,320 patients with NSTEMI had a reported CCC, but hospital-level CCC reporting varied considerably (low tertile 0%-8.2%, intermediate tertile >8.2%-18.8%, and high tertile >18.8%-75.6%). Patients with a reported CCC had more comorbidities and high-risk features compared with patients without a CCC. The use of most guideline-recommended medications and in-hospital mortality rates were similar across hospital tertiles-both for patients with and without a reported CCC. The reporting of CCC among patients with NSTEMI varies widely across US hospitals and does not appear to be related to guidelines adherence or in-hospital mortality rates. These findings suggest that it will be a challenge to standardize the reporting of CCC and thus use invasive management to assess the quality of NSTEMI care.

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Assessment Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Its Association With Hospital Quality of Care and Evidence-Based Therapy Use

The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has prognostic and therapeutic utility after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although LVEF assessment is a key performance measure among AMI patients, contemporary rates of in-hospital assessment and its association with therapy use have not been well characterized. We examined rates of in-hospital LVEF assessment among 77 982 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients and 50 863 ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients in Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With The Guidelines between January 2007 and September 2009, after excluding patients who died in-hospital or who were transferred to another acute care facility, discharged to end-of-life care, or had missing LVEF assessment status. LVEF assessment increased significantly over time, with higher rates among ST-elevation myocardial infarction than non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients (95.1% versus 91.6%; P<0.001). Excluding patients with prior heart failure did not alter these observations. Significant interhospital variability in LVEF assessment rates was observed. Compared with patients with in-hospital LVEF assessment, patients who did not have LVEF assessed were older and more likely to have clinical comorbidities. In multivariable modeling, lower overall hospital quality of AMI care was also associated with lower likelihood of LVEF assessment (odds ratio for failure to assess LVEF, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.13 per 10% decrease in defect-free care). Patients with in-hospital LVEF assessment were more likely to be discharged on evidence-based secondary prevention medication therapies compared with patients without LVEF assessment. The assessment of LVEF among patients with AMI has improved significantly over time, yet significant interhospital variability exists. Patients who did not have in-hospital LVEF assessment were less likely to receive evidence-based medications at discharge. These patients represent targets for future quality improvement efforts.

Hospital Length of Stay in Patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

PurposeSubstantial heterogeneity in hospital length of stay exists among patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Furthermore, little is known about the factors that impact length of stay. MethodsWe examined 39,107 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients admitted to 351 Acute Coronary Treatment Intervention Outcomes Network Registry-Get With The Guidelines hospitals from January 1, 2007-March 31, 2009 who underwent cardiac catheterization and survived to discharge. Length of stay was categorized into 4 groups (≤2, 3-4, 5-7, and ≥8 days), where prolonged length of stay was defined as >4 days. ResultsThe overall median (25th, 75th) length of stay was 3 (2, 5) days. Patients with a length of stay of >2 days were older with more comorbidities, but were less likely to receive evidence-based therapies or percutaneous coronary intervention. Among the factors associated with prolonged length of stay >4 days were delay to cardiac catheterization >48 hours, heart failure or shock on admission, female sex, insurance type, and admission to the hospital on a Friday afternoon or evening. Hospital characteristics such as academic versus nonacademic or urban versus rural setting, were not associated with prolonged length of stay. ConclusionPatients with longer length of stay have more comorbidities and in-hospital complications, yet paradoxically, are less often treated with evidence-based medications and are less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention. Hospital admission on a Friday afternoon or evening and delays to catheterization appear to significantly impact length of stay. A better understanding of factors associated with length of stay in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is needed to promote safe and early discharge in an era of increasingly restrictive health care resources.

Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Myocardial Infarction: Antithrombotic Therapy and Outcomes

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation guidelines recommend long-term use of warfarin according to a patient's predicted risk of stroke. After acute myocardial infarction, however, combining warfarin and antiplatelet medications poses challenges. MethodsBy using data from more than 69,255 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were enrolled in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry–Get With the Guidelines at 309 hospitals from July 1, 2008, to September 30, 2009, we describe the characteristics and outcomes of the population with myocardial infarction with atrial fibrillation diagnosed within 2 weeks before index myocardial infarction admission (7.1%, N=4947). Use of discharge antithrombotic therapy is described overall and across levels of predicted stroke and bleeding risks. ResultsCompared with patients without atrial fibrillation, those with atrial fibrillation before their index myocardial infarction were older and had more comorbidities and worse in-hospital outcomes. Only 32.5% of patients with atrial fibrillation were taking warfarin before their myocardial infarction admission. In these patients, use of warfarin at discharge increased with higher Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke [Doubled] (CHADS2) risk strata (28.5%, 34.6%, and 43.5% for CHADS2 scores 0, 1, and ≥2; P<.001) and increased in patients at low, intermediate, and high risk of bleeding (25.4%, 42.3%, and 42.1%; P=.004). Triple therapy at discharge (aspirin plus clopidogrel plus warfarin) was used in a minority of this population (14.6%). ConclusionsUse of warfarin at discharge in patients with atrial fibrillation is greater among those with higher stroke and bleeding risks, but despite higher-risk profiles, less than half received warfarin at discharge. These findings highlight that clarification is needed to guide choice of antithrombotic therapy for patients with both atrial fibrillation and acute myocardial infarction.

Cost-Effectiveness of Dronedarone in Atrial Fibrillation: Results for Canada, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland

BackgroundDronedarone is a therapy for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. According to results in the ATHENA trial, dronedarone on top of standard of care (SOC) decreases the risk of cardiovascular hospitalizations or death by 24% compared with SOC alone. ObjectivesA patient-level health economic model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of dronedarone on top of SOC versus SOC alone. MethodsThe risk of experiencing stroke, congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, treatment discontinuation, and death was modeled by separate health states, whereas adverse events were included as 1-time cost and utility decrements. State transition probabilities were primarily deduced from the patient-level data from ATHENA using survival analysis. Four sets of analyses were performed to reflect costs and treatment effects in Canada, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Cost-effectiveness analysis was also conducted in a newly defined patient population identified by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to avoid the use of dronedarone in permanent AF patients resembling those in the PALLAS study. ResultsThe predicted survival time was, for the Canadian cohort, extended from 10.11 to 10.24 years when dronedarone was added to SOC. Similar results were found for the other countries, resulting in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of €5828, €5873, €14,970, and €8554 per QALYs for Canada, Italy, Sweden, and, Switzerland, respectively. These results are all well below current established cost-effectiveness thresholds. In the EMA-restricted population, all patients were predicted to live longer, and the ICER increased but remained within established thresholds, with an average cost per QALY gained of €15,900. ConclusionsDronedarone on top of SOC appears to be a cost-effective treatment for atrial fibrillation compared with SOC alone. Despite the differences in the local settings considered, the results were consistent among all the countries included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00174785.

Characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of patients presenting with non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction found to have significant coronary artery disease on coronary angiography and managed medically: Stratification according to renal function

The characteristics, therapies, and outcomes of patients presenting with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, found to have significant coronary artery disease on coronary angiography, and managed without revascularization ("nonrevascularized patients") have not been evaluated previously in a large-scale registry. We examined data on 13,872 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction nonrevascularized patients who were captured by the Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network registry. Patients were divided according to baseline renal function in 4 groups: no chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CKD stages 3, 4, and 5. The in-hospital mortality of nonrevascularized patients was 3.7%, whereas their in-hospital major bleeding rate was 10.8%. Overall, 44.2% (n = 6,132) of nonrevascularized patients had CKD. Compared with patients with normal renal function, nonrevascularized patients with CKD had significantly more history of myocardial infarction, heart failure, more 3-vessel coronary artery disease, and received fewer antithrombotic therapies. In addition, they had significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality and major bleeding; CKD stage 4 was associated with the highest risk of adverse events. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios of in-hospital mortality for CKD stages 3, 4, and 5 relative to no CKD were 1.5, 2.5, and 2.2, respectively (global P < .0001), and the analogous adjusted odds ratios of major bleeding were 1.5, 2.5, and 1.8 (global P < .0001). Nonrevascularized patients have a high in-hospital mortality. Nonrevascularized patients with CKD have more comorbidities than patients without CKD and less frequently receive guideline-recommended therapies. Chronic kidney disease is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality and bleeding.