ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Program Research Articles

Abstract 13867: Sustained Improvement in Door-to-Balloon Time Over 15 Years: The Aurora St. Luke’s 24x7 STEMI Program With Redefinition of Contemporary Door-to-Balloon Time Less Than 60 Minutes: 60 is the New 90

Background: In April 2004, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center implemented an in-house 24x7 interventional cardiology program to improve door-to-balloon time (D2BT) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Previously published data showed a significant reduction in median D2BT, from 98 minutes (January 1, 2002-March 31, 2004) to 55 minutes (April 1, 2004-June 30, 2008), along with a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality after implementation of the program. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the continued experience with the 24x7 program would demonstrate further gain in STEMI outcomes in regard to D2BT. Aims: The primary objective was to evaluate the overall median D2BT over a 15-year period. The secondary objectives were to evaluate median D2BT stratified by weekdays and weekends, on- and off-hours, the proportion of D2BT <90 minutes, and the proportion of D2BT <60 minutes over time. Methods: We collected data on all non-transfer adult patients with STEMI from April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2019, at our center. On-hours were from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and off-hours from 5 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Results: A total of 1889 patients with STEMI (median age [IQR] 61 [54-71] years, 31% female) were evaluated. Over 15 years, median D2BT decreased from 69 minutes to 46 minutes (P < .001; Fig 1A). The decreasing trend was seen on weekdays and weekends (Fig 1B) and on-hours and off-hours. The percentage of cases with a median D2BT <90 minutes increased from 77% to 97% over 15 years, and those with a median D2BT <60 minutes increased from 36% to 76% (Fig 1B). Conclusion: We show sustained improvement in our median D2BT and remarkable improvement in the proportion of D2BT <60 minutes. This paves the way for redefining the contemporary D2BT from <90 to <60 minutes.

Usefulness of the CODE ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Program to Improve Quality Assurance in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

The highest mortality rate associated with acute coronary syndrome is observed in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Quality care in STEMI management depends on timely reperfusion of the ischemic coronary artery. The CODE STEMI program has been developed to reduce delays and serves as a method to improve quality care in patients with STEMI. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of implementing the CODE STEMI program on quality care and hospital marketing strategy. Our research was a descriptive study with mixed evaluation methods. We enrolled 207 patients with STEMI who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 2015 to 2018. We used quantitative methods by tracking medical records and administrative documents, as well as qualitative methods by observation and in-depth interviews. Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests. Our study demonstrated reduced door-to-balloon time, total cost, and length of stay of patients with STEMI who were treated with the CODE STEMI program (p <0.001, p <0.001, and p=0.009, respectively). In addition, there was a likely decrease in major adverse cardiac event incidence and mortality rate after the implementation of CODE STEMI. The hospital and patients expressed their satisfaction with the CODE STEMI program. The program proved to have good efficacy, effectiveness, optimality, acceptability, legitimation, and equity. It also met the marketing mix principles, which included increasing the total number of patients with cardiovascular diseases as well as increasing levels of public trust in STEMI management. In conclusion, the CODE STEMI program has a positive impact on quality care and hospital marketing strategy.

Diabetic Patients Who Present With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BackgroundThe long-term outcomes of diabetic patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in contemporary practice have received limited study. MethodsWe evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of STEMI patients with and without diabetes in a large regional STEMI program designed to facilitate timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, MN). The primary and secondary outcome measures were in-hospital mortality, 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (stroke, myocardial infarction, unplanned PCI or coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery, and all-cause mortality), and 5-year mortality. ResultsOf the 6292 patients included, 1158 (18.4%) had Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (95.3% Type II, 4.7% Type I). Patients with DM were older (mean age 66 vs. 62.8 years, p < 0.01), had more co-morbidities and were more likely to receive medical therapy without reperfusion (13% vs. 10%, p = 0.003). Patients with DM had higher in-hospital (8% vs. 5%, p = 0.001), 1-year (8% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and 5-year mortality (16% vs. 9%, p < 0.001) compared to non-diabetics. On Cox proportional hazards analysis, DM was independently associated with worse mortality (hazard ratio: 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32–2.19, p < 0.001) and MACE [HR: 1.63 (95% (CI)): 1.28–2.08, p < 0.001]. ConclusionsDespite advancements in medical therapy and revascularization strategies for STEMI, DM remains independently associated with higher short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in contemporary practice.

Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the Young Compared With Older Patients in the Tamil Nadu STEMI Program

To compare the clinical presentation, risk factors and outcomes of young patients (≤45 years) presenting with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with older STEMI patients in the Tamil Nadu STEMI program (TN-STEMI). A total of 2,420 patients were enrolled in the TN-STEMI program, which is a pre-implementation and post-implementation quality of care study. The cohort of patients was divided into young STEMI patients (≤45 years) and compared with those aged >45 years. A total of 591(24.4%) patients in this cohort were aged ≤45 years; 92.5% of the young STEMI were males. Smoking was the most common risk factor and its use was significantly more in younger myocardial infarction (MI) patients than in older patients (57% vs 31%; p<0.001). Compared with their older counterparts, younger patients had a lower prevalence of hypertension (14.2% vs 28.3%; p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (13.2% vs 29.7%; p<0.001). Total ischaemic time was shorter for younger patients (235 vs 255 mins; p=0.03). Young STEMI patients more frequently presented with single vessel disease and the left anterior descending coronary artery was the most common infarct-related artery; they also had a higher thrombus load. Young MI patients had reduced mortality, both in-hospital (3.4% vs 6.4%; p=0.005) and at one year (7.6% vs 17.6%; p<0.001). Younger male STEMI patients also showed lower mortality than younger female patients. Young STEMI patients compared with older STEMI patients had lower prevalence of traditional risk factors, shorter ischaemic time and reduced mortality. Young female STEMI patients had higher mortality than young male STEMI patients.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of STEMI Patients With Cardiogenic Shock and Cardiac Arrest

ObjectivesThis study sought to compare the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with and without cardiogenic shock (CS) or cardiac arrest (CA) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). BackgroundPatients with STEMI complicated by CS or CA are underrepresented in STEMI registries. MethodsConsecutive patients with STEMI or new left bundle branch block within 24 h of symptom onset were included in a regional STEMI program comprising a PCI center (Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital), 11 hospitals <60 miles from PCI center (zone 1), and 19 hospitals 60 to 210 miles from PCI center (zone 2). No patients were excluded. Patients were stratified based on the presence (+) or absence (–) of CS or CA before PCI. Patients with CA were further classified based on initial rhythm. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 5-year mortality. ResultsBetween March 2003 and December 2014, 4,511 STEMI patients were included in the regional program, including 398 (9%) with CS and 499 (11%) with CA. Hospital mortality was: CS+ and CA+, 44%; CS+ and CA–, 23%; CS– and CA+, 19%; and CS– and CA–, 2% (p < 0.001). The 5-year survival probability for CS+ and CA+ patients was 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.76) and 0.89 (95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 0.93), respectively (p < 0.01). Compared with patients with shockable rhythms, CA patients with nonshockable rhythms had significantly lower odds of survival at hospital discharge and at 5 years (both p < 0.001). ConclusionsThe combination of CS and CA significantly increases short-term mortality in patients with STEMI. After 5 years of follow-up, CS patients remained at high risk of fatal events, whereas the prognosis of CA patients was determined by initial rhythm at presentation.

Electrocardiograhic findings resulting in inappropriate cardiac catheterization laboratory activation for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Prompt reperfusion has been shown to improve outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a goal of culprit vessel patency in <90 minutes. This requires a coordinated approach between the emergency medical services (EMS), emergency department (ED) and interventional cardiology. The urgency of this process can contribute to inappropriate cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activations. One of the major determinants of inappropriate activations has been misinterpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in the patient with acute chest pain. We report the ECG findings for all CCL activations over an 18-month period after the inception of a STEMI program at our institution. There were a total of 139 activations with 77 having a STEMI diagnosis confirmed and 62 activations where there was no STEMI. The inappropriate activations resulted from a combination of atypical symptoms and misinterpretation of the ECG (45% due to anterior ST-segment elevation) on patient presentation. The electrocardiographic abnormalities were particularly problematic in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy. In this single-center, prospective observational study, nearly half of the inappropriate STEMI activations were due to the misinterpretation of anterior ST-segment elevation and this finding was commonly seen in African-Americans with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Improved Survival Associated With Pre-Hospital Triage Strategy in a Large Regional ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Program

This study sought to compare the 1-year survival of patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and transferred via pre-hospital triage strategy for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with those transferred via inter-hospital transfer within a large suburban region in Canada. Primary angioplasty is the preferred therapy for STEMI if it is done within 90 min of door-to-balloon time by an experienced team in a high-volume center. Patients identified to have STEMI on the ambulances equipped with electrocardiography bypassed the local hospitals and were sent directly to the PCI center, whereas other patients that were picked up by ambulances without electrocardiographic equipment were transported to the local hospitals where the diagnosis of STEMI was made and were re-routed to the PCI center. Patient demographic data, clinical presentation, procedural data, in-hospital course, and vital statistics were prospectively recorded in a provincial cardiac registry. A total of 167 patients were brought into the PCI center via pre-hospital triage strategy, and 427 patients were brought in via inter-hospital transfer during a 2-year study period. Baseline demographic data, infarct location, cardiovascular history, and hemodynamic status were similar between the 2 groups. When compared with the inter-hospital transfer group, a significantly higher proportion of pre-hospital triaged patients achieved the 90-min door-to-balloon time benchmark (80.4% vs. 8.7%, p < 0.001) and post-procedural Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 after the emergency procedure (97.6% vs. 91.4%, p = 0.02). In addition, the pre-hospital triage strategy was associated with a significantly lower 30-day (5.4% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.006) and 1-year (6.6% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.019) mortality. Pre-hospital triage was an independent predictor for survival at 1 year (hazard ratio: 0.37, 95% confidence interval: 0.18 to 0.75, p = 0.006). Pre-hospital triage strategy was associated with improved survival rate in patients undergoing primary PCI in a regional STEMI program.

The impact of therapeutic hypothermia as adjunctive therapy in a regional primary PCI program

BackgroundTherapeutic hypothermia (TH) is associated with improved neurologic outcomes in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). There are currently limited data on the outcomes of patients presenting with resuscitated OHCA in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We conducted a retrospective study to determine the outcomes of patients treated with TH for OHCA in a large regionalized STEMI program. MethodsPatients referred for primary PCI and TH between July 2004 and April 2011 were identified from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute STEMI database. The primary endpoint was survival to hospital discharge with sufficient neurologic recovery to enable discharge home. ResultsAmong 2467 consecutive patients referred for primary PCI, we identified 50 patients treated with TH following OHCA. Forty-nine underwent PCI, of which 47 (96%) received a stent. Median door-to-balloon time was 113min (IQR 91–151). Patients with good neurologic recovery were younger, mean 51±9 years versus 64±12, p<0.001, and had higher baseline creatinine clearance, 70±19mL/min/1.73m2 versus 53±23mL/min/1.73m2, p=0.007. The primary endpoint of survival with sufficient neurologic recovery to enable discharge home was reached in 30 patients (60%). Four survivors required levels of assistance that precluded discharge home. ConclusionsTherapeutic hypothermia in conjunction with primary PCI is associated with a favorable neurologic outcome in the majority of STEMI patients surviving OHCA. Our results suggest that TH is an important adjunctive therapy for STEMI patients suffering OHCA.

Abstract P135: An Independent Initiative to Improve Door-to-Balloon Times: Results From the Aurora 24x7 STEMI Program

BACKGROUND: To improve hospital performance in door-to-balloon (D2B) times, an independent initiative - the Aurora St. Luke's 24x7 STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) program - was launched on April 1, 2004, as part of a system-wide quality improvement effort. We evaluated recent changes in D2B times within the program. METHODS: The program involves 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in-hospital call for the interventional cardiologist and the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) staff and includes the following strategies: 1) rapid electrocardiogram acquisition and emergency department (ED) physician interpretation in ≤10 min of hospital arrival; 2) ED physician activation of the 24x7 team with a single call; 3) calibration of the clocks in the ED and the CCL checked monthly; and 4) feedback provided to staff within 24-72 hours. We studied D2B times in non-transferred patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI (PPCI) from July 2007 to June 2009. RESULTS: A total of 251 consecutive non-transfer patients (median age 60, women 30.7% [77 of 251]) underwent PPCI for acute STEMI. Median D2B was 52 min (interquartile range 41-64) with a 93.6% (n=235 of 251) rate of D2B &lt;90 min. Secondary analyses of this cohort demonstrated a 69.3% rate (175 of 251) of D2B &lt;60 min. CONCLUSION: An innovative in-hospital 24x7 interventional STEMI program has dramatically increased the percentage of patients reperfused within 90 min and consistently exceeds the American College of Cardiology Door-to-Balloon (D2B) Alliance benchmark (93.6% vs. 75% rate of D2B &lt;90 min). The 24x7 STEMI program is an important demonstration model in systems improvement for care of patients with STEMI.

In-Hospital Outcomes of a Regional ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Acute Transfer and Repatriation Program

Background Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presents challenges in a large geographic area for achieving treatment time targets and creates demands on the PCI centre resources. Objective We compare the in-hospital mortality rate of patients presenting with STEMI and referred for PCI from 11 transfer hospitals with those presenting to the cardiac centre in a regional STEMI program with a selective repatriation strategy. Methods Between June 1, 2003, and June 30, 2007, clinical and procedural data of all STEMI patients who were referred to the catheterization laboratory were prospectively collected. Patients who sustained prolonged cardiac arrest were excluded. Results A total of 1154 patients from regional hospitals and 325 patients initially presenting to the PCI centre were referred for acute intervention. There was no significant in-hospital mortality difference between the 2 groups (3.7% vs 4.0%, respectively; P = 0.87). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, female gender, multivessel coronary disease, history of hypertension, low ejection fraction, increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and thrombolytic pretreatment, but not transfer status, were independent predictors for mortality. Among the 1154 transfer patients, 937 patients (81.2%) returned immediately post procedure and had a lower mortality rate than the remaining 217 patients (18.2%) who required admission to the PCI centre following cardiac catheterization (1.9% vs 11.5%, P < 0.001). Conclusion A regional system of STEMI care based on rapid patient transfer to a PCI centre and repatriation was feasible and safe.

Door-to-Balloon Times Under 90 Min Can Be Routinely Achieved for Patients Transferred for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in a Rural Setting

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of routine transfer of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients to achieve percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in less than 90 min from presentation. Many PCI hospitals have achieved routine door-to-balloon times under 90 min for patients with STEMI presenting directly to the hospital. However, few patients transferred from a non-PCI center undergo PCI within 90 min of presentation. Our rural PCI hospital implemented a program in 2005 for rapid triage, transfer, and treatment of STEMI patients and made additional improvements in 2006 and 2007. Intervals between milestones in the STEMI triage/transfer/treatment process were assessed before and after implementation of the program. During the 5-year study period, 676 patients with 687 STEMIs were transferred from 19 community hospitals and underwent PCI. Median door-to-balloon time decreased from 189 min to 88 min (p < 0.001). The time intervals reflecting efficiency of the referring hospitals, transfer services, and PCI hospital all significantly improved. In 2008, median door-to-balloon times were <90 min for 6 of the 7 most frequently referring hospitals. Delays during off-hours presentation in 2004 were abolished after the program was implemented in 2005. In-hospital mortality decreased from 6% before to 3% after implementation of the program. In multivariate modeling, presentation before initiation of the STEMI program predicted increased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 3.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.22 to 11.51, p = 0.021). A program of rapid triage, transfer, and treatment of STEMI patients presenting to non-PCI hospitals can reduce in-hospital mortality and produce progressive improvements in door-to-balloon time such that median door-to-balloon times under 90 min are feasible.

Sustaining and Spreading Reduced Door-to-Balloon Times for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients

Prompt primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) significantly reduces mortality and morbidity. In 2004 the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) set a goal to reduce door-to-balloon (D2B) time to < 90 minutes in 75% of STEMI cases. IMPLEMENTING THE STEMI INITIATIVE: In 2004, the STEMI/D2B leadership team broke down D2B time into four segments: door to data, data to diagnosis, diagnosis to decision, and decision to device. Each segment was examined for inefficiencies, duplication, and nonstandardization. In 2005, after the internal D2B processes and results showed improvement, the STEMI/D2B leadership team extended the project to prehospital emergency medical services. In 2006, UMass Memorial began to roll out a regional system for STEMI care to the 12 community hospitals in its service area without on-site PCI capabilities. In 2007, the STEMI program's first full year, D2B times averaged < or = 90 minutes in 94% of the 87 STEMI cases; 62% had a D2B of < or = 60 minutes. In 2008, 96% of the D2B times averaged < or = 90 minutes. Mortality rates following PCI for STEMI were 62% and 57% less than predicted in 2006 and 2007, respectively. In 2008 the D2B time for direct-admit STEMI patients averaged < 50 minutes. From December 2007 through April 2009 UMass Memorial achieved the new ACC/AHA metric of prehospital EKG to balloon in < or = 90 minutes for 64 (90%) of the 71 patients for whom a prehospital electrocardiogram was obtained. The D2B time process is being applied to other clinical venues; a vascular surgery project is underway to reduce "door-to-incision time" for patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Guideline Implementation Research: Exploring the Gap between Evidence and Practice in the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative

Translating research results into routine clinical practice remains difficult. Guidelines, such as the 2002 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Unstable Angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, have been developed to provide a streamlined, evidence-based approach to patient care that is of high quality and is reproducible. The Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress ADverse Outcomes with Early Implementation (CRUSADE) Quality Improvement Initiative was developed as a registry for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes to track the use of guideline-based acute and discharge treatments for hospitalized patients, as well as outcomes associated with the use of these treatments. Care for more than 200,000 patients at more than 400 high-volume acute care hospitals in the United States was tracked in CRUSADE, with feedback provided to participating physicians and hospitals regarding their performance over time and compared with similar institutions. Such access to data has proved important in stimulating improvements in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes care at participating hospitals for delivery of acute and discharge guideline-based therapy, as well as improving outcomes for patients. Providing quality improvement methods such as protocol order sets, continuing education programs, and a CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative toolbox serve to actively stimulate physician providers and institutions to improve care. The CRUSADE Initiative has also proven to be a fertile source of research in translation of treatment guidelines into routine care, resulting in more than 52 published articles and 86 abstracts presented at major emergency medicine and cardiology meetings. The cycle for research of guideline implementation demonstrated by CRUSADE includes four major steps--observation, intervention, investigation, and publication--that serve as the basis for evaluating the impact of any evidence-based guideline on patient care. Due to the success of CRUSADE, the American College of Cardiology combined the CRUSADE Initiative with the National Registry for Myocardial Infarction ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction program to form the National Cardiovascular Data Registry-Acute Coronary Treatment & Intervention Outcomes Network Registry beginning in January 2007.