Implementation of a statewide system for coronary reperfusion for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Regionalization of stroke systems of care in the stroke belt states: The IMPROVE stroke care quality improvement program

BACKGROUND

Despite guidelines and strong evidence supporting intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy for acute stroke, access to these interventions remains a challenge. The objective of the IMPROVE stroke care program was to accelerate acute stroke care delivery by implementing best practices and improving the regional systems of care within comprehensive stroke networks.

METHODS

The IMPROVE Stroke Care program was a prospective quality improvement program based on established models used in acute coronary care. Nine hub hospitals (comprehensive stroke centers), 52 regional/community referral hospitals (spokes), and over 100 emergency medical service agencies participated. Through 6 regional meetings, 49 best practices were chosen for improvement by the participating sites. Over 2 years, progress was tracked and discussed weekly and performance reviews were disseminated quarterly.

RESULTS

Data were collected on 21,647 stroke code activations of which 8,502 (39.3%) activations had a final diagnosis of stroke. There were 7,226 (85.0%) ischemic strokes, and thrombolytic therapy was administered 2,814 times (38.9%). There was significant overall improvement in the proportion that received lytic therapy within 45 minutes (baseline of 44.6%-60.4%). The hubs were more frequently achieving this at baseline, but both site types improved. A total of 1,455 (17.1%) thrombectomies were included in the data of which 401 (27.6%) were transferred from a spoke. There was no clinically significant change in door-to-groin times for hub-presenting thrombectomy patients, however, significant improvement occurred for transferred cases, 46 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 36, 115.5) at baseline to 27 minutes (IQR 10, 59).

CONCLUSIONS

The IMPROVE program approach was successful at improving the delivery of thrombolytic intervention across the consortium at both spoke and hub sites through collaborative efforts to operationalize guideline-based care through iterative sharing of performance and best practices for implementation. Our approach allowed identification of both opportunities for improvement and operational best practices providing guidance on how best to create a regional stroke care network and operationalize the published acute stroke care guidelines.

Impact of chest pain center quality control indicators on mortality risk in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients: a study based on Killip classification

Background

Despite the crucial role of Chest pain centers (CPCs) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) management, China's mortality rate for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has remained stagnant. This study evaluates the influence of CPC quality control indicators on mortality risk in STEMI patients receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cohort of 664 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing PPCI from 2020 to 2022 was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The cohort was stratified by Killip classification at admission (Class 1: n = 402, Class ≥2: n = 262).

Results

At a median follow-up of 17 months, 35 deaths were recorded. In Class ≥2, longer door-to-balloon (D-to-B) time, PCI informed consent time, catheterization laboratory activation time, and diagnosis-to-loading dose dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) time were associated with increased mortality risk. In Class 1, consultation time (notice to arrival) under 10 min reduced death risk. In Class ≥2, PCI informed consent time under 20 min decreased mortality risk.

Conclusion

CPC quality control metrics affect STEMI mortality based on Killip class. Key factors include time indicators and standardization of CPC management. The study provides guidance for quality care during COVID-19.

Tele-ECG improves diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Côte d'Ivoire

Introduction

The emergence of cardiovascular risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa suggests an increasing incidence of acute coronary syndromes and STEMI. The aim of the study was to define the prevalence of STEMI and to describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with STEMI within the tele-electrocardiogram (ECG) network in Côte d'Ivoire.

Method

A retrospective study was conducted from January 2015 to August 2019. All adult patients managed by one of the six hospitals within the telemedicine network who benefited from a remote interpretation of their ECG by the cardiology department of Bouaké University Hospital were included. The main reason for ECG interpretation, patient and ECG characteristics, diagnosis, response time and treatment were described.

Results

A total of 5649 patients were included. The prevalence of STEMI was 0.7% (n = 44 cases) with a mean age of 58.6 ± 11.8 years and a M/F sex ratio of 1.93. Among STEMI patients, chest pain was the main reason for ECG testing (56.8%). Most ECGs were interpreted within 12 hours (72.8%). The anterior inter-ventricular artery location (59.1%, n = 26) was predominant. The Q wave of necrosis was absent in 18% (n = 8) of cases. All patients received double anti-platelet aggregation and 50% (n = 22) additional heparin therapy. No patient underwent primary angioplasty or thrombolysis, 65.9% (n = 29) were referred to the Bouaké Cardiology Department and 34.1% (n = 15) to the Abidjan Heart Institute. Scheduled angioplasty was performed in 20% (n = 3) of patients in Abidjan.

Conclusion

Tele-ECG was an effective means of STEMI screening in Côte d'Ivoire. Systematic telethrombolysis of all patients diagnosed could improve their prognosis.

Interfacility Transfer of Uninsured vs Insured Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in California

Importance

Insurance status has been associated with whether patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presenting to emergency departments are transferred to other facilities, but whether the facility's percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities mediate this association is unknown.

Objective

To examine whether uninsured patients with STEMI were more likely than patients with insurance to experience interfacility transfer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This observational cohort study compared patients with STEMI with and without insurance who presented to California emergency departments between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, using the Patient Discharge Database and Emergency Department Discharge Database from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. Statistical analyses were completed in April 2023.

Exposures

Primary exposures were lack of insurance and facility percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was transfer status from the presenting emergency department of a percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital, defined as a facility performing 36 percutaneous coronary interventions per year. Multivariable logistic regression models with multiple robustness checks were performed to determine the association of insurance status with the odds of transfer.

Results

This study included 135 358 patients with STEMI, of whom 32 841 patients (24.2%) were transferred (mean [SD] age, 64 [14] years; 10 100 women [30.8%]; 2542 Asian individuals [7.7%]; 2053 Black individuals [6.3%]; 8285 Hispanic individuals [25.2%]; 18 650 White individuals [56.8%]). After adjusting for time trends, patient factors, and transferring hospital characteristics (including percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities), patients who were uninsured had lower odds of experiencing interfacility transfer than those with insurance (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98; P = .01).

Conclusions and Relevance

After accounting for a facility's percutaneous coronary intervention capabilities, lack of insurance was associated with lower odds of emergency department transfer for patients with STEMI. These findings warrant further investigation to understand the characteristics of facilities and outcomes for uninsured patients with STEMI.

Prediction of inappropriate pre-hospital transfer of patients with suspected cardiovascular emergency diseases using machine learning: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to develop a prediction model for transferring patients to an inappropriate hospital for suspected cardiovascular emergency diseases at the pre-hospital stage, using variables obtained from an integrated nationwide dataset, and to assess the performance of this model.

METHODS

We integrated three nationwide datasets and developed a two-step prediction model utilizing a machine learning algorithm. Ninety-eight clinical characteristics of patients identified at the pre-hospital stage and 13 hospital components were used as input data for the model. The primary endpoint of the model was the prediction of transfer to an inappropriate hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 94,256 transferred patients in the public pre-hospital care system matched the National Emergency Department Information System data of patients with a pre-hospital cardiovascular registry created in South Korea between July 2017 and December 2018. Of these, 1,770 (6.26%) patients failed to be transferred to a capable hospital. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the final predictive model was 0.813 (0.800-0.825), and the area under the receiver precision-recall curve was 0.286 (0.265-0.308).

CONCLUSIONS

Our prediction model used machine learning to show favorable performance in transferring patients with suspected cardiovascular disease to a capable hospital. For our results to lead to changes in the pre-hospital care system, a digital platform for sharing real-time information should be developed.

Disparity of Performance Measure by Door-to-Balloon Time Between a Rural and Urban Area for Management of Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction ― Insights From the Nationwide Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry ―

BACKGROUND

Although a door-to-balloon (D2B) time ≤90 min is recognized as a key indicator of timely reperfusion for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), it is unclear whether regional disparities in the prognostic value of D2B remain in contemporary Japan.Methods and Results: We retrospectively analyzed 17,167 STEMI patients (mean [±SD] age 68±13 years, 77.6% male) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. With reference to the Japanese median population density of 1,147 people/km², patients were divided into 2 groups: rural (n=6,908) and urban (n=10,259). Compared with the urban group, median D2B time was longer (70 vs. 62 min; P<0.001) and the rate of achieving a D2B time ≤90 min was lower (70.7% vs. 75.4%; P<0.001) in the rural group. In-hospital mortality was lower for patients with a D2B time ≤90 min than >90 min, regardless of residential area, whereas multivariable analysis identified prolonged D2B time as a predictor of in-hospital death only in the rural group (adjusted odds ratio 1.57; 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.09; P=0.002). Importantly, the rural-urban disparity in in-hospital mortality emerged most distinctively among patients with Killip Class IV and a D2B time >90 min.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that there is a substantial rural-urban gap in the prognostic significance of D2B time among STEMI patients, especially those with cardiogenic shock and a prolonged D2B time.

Treatment Time and In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, 2018-2021

IMPORTANCE

Recognizing the association between timely treatment and less myocardial injury for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), US national guidelines recommend specific treatment-time goals.

OBJECTIVE

To describe these process measures and outcomes for a recent cohort of patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Cross-sectional study of a diagnosis-based registry between the second quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2021 for 114 871 patients with STEMI treated at 648 hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry.

EXPOSURES

STEMI or STEMI equivalent.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Treatment times, in-hospital mortality, and adherence to system goals (75% treated ≤90 minutes of first medical contact if the first hospital is percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]-capable and ≤120 minutes if patients require transfer to a PCI-capable hospital).

RESULTS

In the study population, median age was 63 (IQR, 54-72) years, 71% were men, and 29% were women. Median time from symptom onset to PCI was 148 minutes (IQR, 111-226) for patients presenting to PCI-capable hospitals by emergency medical service, 195 minutes (IQR, 127-349) for patients walking in, and 240 minutes (IQR, 166-402) for patients transferred from another hospital. Adjusted in-hospital mortality was lower for those treated within target times vs beyond time goals for patients transported via emergency medical services (first medical contact to laboratory activation ≤20 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 3.6 vs 9.2] adjusted OR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.48-0.60], and first medical contact to device ≤90 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 3.3 vs 12.1] adjusted OR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.36-0.44]), walk-in patients (hospital arrival to device ≤90 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 1.8 vs 4.7] adjusted OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.40-0.55]), and transferred patients (door-in to door-out time <30 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 2.9 vs 6.4] adjusted OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.32-0.78], and first hospital arrival to device ≤120 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 4.3 vs 14.2] adjusted OR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.26-0.71]). Regardless of mode of presentation, system goals were not met in most quarters, with the most delayed system performance among patients requiring interhospital transfer (17% treated ≤120 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study of patients with STEMI included in a US national registry provides information on changes in process and outcomes between 2018 and 2021.

Emergency Interhospital Transfer of Patients With ST‐Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Call 9‐1‐1—The American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Program

ABSTRACT: The American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline program objectives are to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Every minute of delay in treatment adversely affects 1‐year mortality. Transfer of patients safely and timely to hospitals with primary percutaneous coronary intervention capability is needed to improve outcomes. But treatment times continue to show delays, especially during interhospital transfers. A simple 3‐step process of an interhospital “Call 9‐1‐1” protocol may expedite this process. This STAT TRANSFER process uses a systems approach that considers diverse ways in which patients access care, how EMS responds and determines destinations, how referring hospital transfers are performed, urban and rural differences, and how receiving hospitals prepare for an incoming patient with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. This initiative suggests a strategy to reduce variability in interhospital transfer times using a STAT TRANSFER and a Call 9‐1‐1 process in a system of care that involves all stakeholders.

Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention and Application of the Pharmacoinvasive Approach Within ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care Networks

The management of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has transitioned from observation and reactive treatment of hemodynamic and arrhythmic complications to accelerated reperfusion and application of evidence-based treatment to minimize morbidity and mortality. International research established the importance of timely reperfusion therapy and the application of fibrinolysis, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and subsequent development of the pharmacoinvasive approach. Clinician thought leaders developed and investigated comprehensive systems of care to optimize the outcomes of patients with STEMI, with a key focus in Canada being the integration of prehospital paramedics in diagnosis, triage, and treatment. This article will review highlights of these interventions and identify future challenges and opportunities in STEMI patient care.

The Telecardiology Revolution: From Emergency Management to Daily Clinical Practice

AIMS

Telecardiology is one of the most widespread applications of telemedicine. We aimed to report the design and development of a telecardiology system in the sanitary district of Cosenza, one of the largest in Italy, with a complex orography, and healthcare reorganization needs, for the management of the emergency network and daily clinical practice.

METHODS

Our telecardiology network connects 8 hospitals, 9 first aid centers, 20 local 118-EMS stations, 1 helicopter station, 8 hospital emergency departments, 59 hospital departments, and 3 catheterization laboratories. All data are centralized on a dedicated server, accessible from any location for real-time assessment. The quality, source, and timing of the electrocardiograms transmitted were evaluated.

RESULTS

From October 2015 to December 2019, a total of 389,970 ECGs were transmitted. The quality of ECGs was optimal in 52%, acceptable in 42%, and poor in 6% of the cases. The number of poor-quality ECGs was only 3% in the last 2 years. Out of the total, 145,097 (37.2%) were transmitted from the emergency departments and 5318 (1.4%) from the 118-EMS. Of interest, a sizable part of the ECG was related to routine clinical practice, comprising 110,556 (28.3%) from the cardiology department and 79,256 (20.3%) from other noncardiovascular departments. Finally, the average reporting time was significantly decreased compared to reporting times without a telecardiology system (5-10 vs. 45-90 min).

CONCLUSION

Our telecardiology system provides efficient cardiology assistance for all types, settings, and phases of cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of a Prioritization Score on the Inter-Hospital Transfer Time Management of Severe COVID-19 Patients. A Quasi-Experimental Intervention Study

Background

The overburdening of the healthcare system during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is driving the need to create new tools to improve the management of inter-hospital transport for patients with a severe COVID-19 infection.

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyse the usefulness of the application of a prioritization score (IHTCOVID-19) for inter-hospital transfer of patients with COVID-19 infection.

Methods

The study has a quasi-experimental design and was conducted on the Medical Emergency System, the pre-hospital emergency department of the public company belonging to the Autonomous Government of Catalonia that manages urgent healthcare in the region. Patients with a severe COVID-19 infection requiring inter-hospital transport were consecutively included. The pre-intervention period was from 1 to 31 March 2020, and the intervention period with the IHTCOVID-19 score was from 1 to 30 April 2020 (from 8 am to 8 pm). The prioritization score comprises four priority categories, with Priority 0 being the highest and Priority 3 being the lowest. Inter-hospital transfer (IHT) management times (alert-assignment time, resource management time and total central management time) and their variability were evaluated according to whether or not the IHTCOVID-19 score was applied.

Results

A total of 344 IHTs were included: 189 (54.9%) in the pre-intervention period and 155 (45.1%) in the post-intervention period. The majority of patients were male and the most frequent age range was between 50 and 70 years. According to the IHTCOVID-19 score, 12 (3.5%) transfers were classified as Priority 0, 66 (19.4%) as Priority 1, 247 (71.8%) as Priority 2 and 19 (5.6%) as Priority 3. Overall, with the application of the IHTCOVID-19 score, there was a significant reduction in total central management time [from 112.4 (inter-quartile range (IQR) 281.3) to 89.8 min (IQR 154.9); P = 0.012]. This significant reduction was observed in Priority 0 patients [286.2 (IQR 218.5) to 42.0 min (IQR 58); P = 0.018] and Priority 1 patients [130.3 (IQR 297.3) to 75.4 min (IQR 91.1); P = 0.034]. After applying the IHTCOVID-19 score, the average time of the process decreased by 22.6 min, and variability was reduced from 618.1 to 324.0 min.

Conclusion

The application of the IHTCOVID-19 score in patients with a severe COVID-19 infection reduces IHT management times and variability.

Training Non-Cardiologists Could Improve the Treatment Results of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Fundamento

De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, países emergentes terão um crescimento considerável no número de ataques cardíacos e mortes relacionadas. Um dos principais problemas médicos no Brasil é a mortalidade causada por infarto agudo do miocárdio com supra de ST (IAMCSST). A Sociedade de Cardiologia do Estado de São Paulo nunca treinou não-cardiologistas para atendimentos de emergência. Os pacientes normalmente buscam ajuda em prontos-socorros, em vez de chamar a ambulância.

Objetivo

Nosso objetivo foi reduzir as taxas de mortalidade hospitalar causada por infarto agudo do miocárdio ao treinar profissionais da emergência na cidade de São Paulo.

Métodos

Utilizamos um programa de treinamento para as equipes de cinco hospitais com > 100 pacientes internados com IAMCSST por ano, e pelo menos 15% de mortes hospitalares relacionadas ao IAMCSST. Realizamos treinamentos online, organizamos de dois a quatro eventos para até 400 participantes, fizemos folders e panfletos informativos. A análise estatística utilizou o teste para comparação de duas proporções, com p <0,05.

Resultados

Quase 200 médicos e 350 enfermeiros participaram de pelo menos um treinamento de maio de 2010 até dezembro de 2013. Inicialmente, muitos médicos da emergência não reconheciam um infarto agudo do miocárdio no eletrocardiograma, mas a tele-ecocardiografia é usada em alguns departamentos da emergência para determinar o diagnóstico. A taxa de mortalidade nos cinco hospitais caiu de 25,6%, em 2009, para 18,2%, em 2010 (p=0,005). Depois da conclusão do período de treinamento, as mortes relacionadas ao IAMCSST em todos os hospitais públicos de São Paulo diminuíram de 14,31%, em 2009, para 11,25%, em 2014 (p<0,0001).

Conclusão

Mesmo programas simplificados de treinamento de pessoal da emergência pode reduzir muito as taxas de morte por infarto agudo do miocárdio em países em desenvolvimento.

Reduction in Interfacility Transfer Response Time after Implementation of an AutoLaunch Protocol

Background: Interfacility transfers (IFTs) are an essential component of healthcare systems to allow movement of patients between facilities. It is essential to limit any delays in patients receiving the care they require at the receiving facility. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether IFT response time was reduced after implementation of an AutoLaunch protocol, in which an ambulance is dispatched to the sending facility prior to acceptance of the patient by the receiving facility. The secondary objective was to describe the frequency and amount of time ambulances had to stage outside the sending facility in situations where the ambulance arrived prior to the patient being accepted by the receiving facility. Methods: This was a retrospective pre-post analysis of patients undergoing IFT for services not available at the sending facility between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019, with the AutoLaunch protocol being implemented on March 25, 2019. IFT response time was defined as the time the transfer request was initially made to the time the ambulance arrived at the sending facility. Dispatch call logs and transport records were analyzed before and after implementation of the AutoLaunch protocol to assess for a difference in IFT response time as well as frequency and amount of time ambulances had to stage. Results: Of 1,881 IFTs analyzed, 885 (47.0%) were completed under the traditional protocol and 996 (53.0%) were completed under the AutoLaunch protocol. The median IFT response time under the traditional protocol was 27.5 minutes (interquartile range (IQR): 17.9, 43.3), compared with 19.9 minutes (IQR: 12.8, 28.2) under the AutoLaunch protocol (p < 0.01), representing a 27.6% reduction in response time, or 7.6 minutes saved. Of the 996 AutoLaunch transfers, there were 215 incidents (21.6%) in which the IFT ambulance had to stage, and the median staging time was 10.1 minutes (IQR: 4.9, 24.2). Conclusions: Implementation of our AutoLaunch protocol resulted in a significant reduction in ambulance response time for interfacility transfers. Further studies are needed to assess whether the reduction in response time is associated with improved patient outcomes for certain conditions.

Creating a Pediatric Prehospital Destination Decision Tool Using a Modified Delphi Method

Decisions for patient transport by emergency medical services (EMS) are individualized; while established guidelines help direct adult patients to specialty hospitals, no such pediatric equivalents are in wide use. When children are transported to a hospital that cannot provide definitive care, care is delayed and may cause adverse events. Therefore, we created a novel evidence-based decision tool to support EMS destination choice. A multidisciplinary expert panel (EP) of stakeholders reviewed published literature. Four facility capability levels for pediatric care were defined. Using a modified Delphi method, the EP matched specific conditions to a facility pediatric-capability level in a draft tool. The literature review and EP recommendations identified seventeen pediatric medical conditions at risk for secondary transport. In the first voting round, two were rejected, nine met consensus for a specific facility capability level, and six did not reach consensus on the destination facility level. A second round reached consensus on a facility level for the six conditions as well as revision of one previously rejected condition. In the third round, the panel selected a visual display format. Finally, the panel unanimously approved the PDTree. Using a modified Delphi technique, we developed the PDTree EMS destination decision tool by incorporating existing evidence and the expertise of a multidisciplinary panel.

Evaluation of Door-to-Balloon Times After Implementation of a ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Network

BACKGROUND

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires prompt therapy. It is recommended for door-to-balloon (DTB) times to be less than 90 minutes. In the United States, some locations have difficulty meeting this goal.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine whether implementation of a STEMI network decreased DTB times at a large, STEMI-receiving, metropolitan academic hospital in the southeastern United States. Furthermore, differences among presentation types, including walk-in, emergency medical services, and transfers, were explored.

METHODS

A pre-post time series study of electronic medical record data was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a STEMI network.

RESULTS

The sample included 127 patients with a diagnosis of STEMI, collected during 3 periods (T1, T2, and T3). Patients were primarily White (78.0%) and male (67.7%), with a mean (SD) age of 58.9 (13.9) years. The 1-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in overall DTB times, F2 = 11.66, P < .001. Post hoc comparisons indicated longer mean DTB times for T1 compared with T3 (P < .001) and T2 (P < .001). When exploring presentation type, 1-way analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in mean DTB times in transfer patients between T1 and T2 (P < .001) and T1 to T3 (P < .001). No other statistical differences were noted; however, all DTB times with the exception of T2 for emergency medical services presentation decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of a STEMI network was effective at decreasing overall DTB times with patients who presented to the hospital with a diagnosis of STEMI.

Regional Systems of Care in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a medical emergency with significant health care delivery challenges to ensure rapid triage and treatment. Several developments over the past decades have led to improved care delivery, decreased time to reperfusion, and decreased mortality. Still, significant challenges remain to further optimize the delivery of care for this patient population.

Development of ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction Programs in Developing Countries: Global Challenges and Solutions

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide; approximately 80% of CVD deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The epidemiologic transition to a high burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) has happened with greater rapidity in LMICs than in high-income countries. The absolute number of individuals with premature IHD has increased substantially. Higher event rates are observed compared with high-income countries. The technological capability to do extraordinary things for patients has increased, as has patient demand, in a setting of constrained resources and expensive health care of variable quality.

Differential benefits of cardiac care regionalization based on driving time to percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) require timely reperfusion, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decreases morbidity and mortality. Regionalization of STEMI care has increased timeliness and use of PCI, but it is unknown whether benefits to regionalization depend on a community's distance from its nearest PCI center. We sought to determine whether STEMI regionalization benefits, measured by access to PCI centers, timeliness of treatment (same-day or in-hospital PCI), and mortality, differ by baseline distance to nearest PCI center.

METHODS

Using a difference-in-difference-in-differences model, we examined access to PCI-capable hospitals, receipt of PCI either on the day of admission or during the care episode, and health outcomes for patients hospitalized from January 1, 2006, to September 30, 2015.

RESULTS

Of 139,408 patients (2006 to 2015), 51% could reach the nearest PCI center in <30 minutes, and 49% required ≥30 minutes driving time. For communities with baseline access ≥30 minutes, regionalization increased the probability of admission to a PCI-capable hospital by 9.4% and also increased the likelihood of receiving same-day PCI (by 11.2%) and PCI during the hospitalization (by 7.4%). Patients living within 30 minutes did not accrue significant benefits (measured by admission to a PCI-capable hospital or receipt of PCI) from regionalization initiatives. Regionalization more than halved access disparities and completely eliminated treatment disparities between communities ≥30 minutes and communities <30 minutes from the nearest PCI hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Measured by likelihood of admission to a PCI-capable facility and receipt of PCI, benefits of STEMI regionalization in California accrued only to patients whose nearest PCI center was ≥30 minutes away. We found no mortality benefits of regionalization based on distance from PCI center. Our results suggest that policymakers focus STEMI regionalization efforts in communities that are not already well serviced by PCI-capable hospitals.

The effects of mobile health on emergency care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

In resource-constrained settings, mobile health (mHealth) has varied applications. While there is strong evidence for its use in chronic disease management, the applications of mHealth for management of acute illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are not as well described. This review systematically explores current available evidence on the effectiveness of mHealth interventions at improving health outcomes in emergency care settings in LMICs.

METHODS

A systematic search of the literature was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, utilizing seven electronic databases and manual searches to identify peer-reviewed literature containing each of three search elements: mHealth, emergency care (EC), and LMICs. Articles quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.

RESULTS

After removing duplicates, 6498 studies met initial search criteria; 108 were eligible for full text review and 46 met criteria for inclusion. Thirty-six pertained to routine emergency care, and 10 involved complex humanitarian emergencies. Based on the GRADE criteria, 15 studies were rated as "Very Low" quality, 24 as "Low" quality, 6 as "Moderate" quality, and 1 as "High" quality. Eight studied data collection, 9 studied decision support, 15 studied direct patient care, and 14 studied health training. All 46 studies reported positive impacts of mHealth on EC in LMICs.

CONCLUSIONS

Mobile health interventions can be effective in improving provider-focused and patient-centered outcomes in both routine and complex EC settings. Future investigations focusing on patient-centered outcomes are needed to further validate these findings.

Association of Cardiac Care Regionalization With Access, Treatment, and Mortality Among Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Regionalization of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) systems of care has been championed over the past decade. Although timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve outcomes, no studies have determined how regionalization has affected the care and outcomes of patients. We sought to determine if STEMI regionalization is associated with changes in access, treatment, and outcomes.

METHODS

Using a difference-in-differences approach, we analyzed a statewide, administrative database of 139 494 patients with STEMI in California from 2006 to 2015 using regionalization data based on a survey of all local Emergency Medical Services agencies in the state.

RESULTS

For patients with STEMI, the base rate of admission to a hospital with PCI capability was 72.7%, and regionalization was associated with an increase of 5.34 percentage points (95% CI, 1.58-9.10), representing a 7.1% increase. Regionalization was also associated with a statistically significant increase of 3.54 (95% CI, 0.61-6.48) percentage points in the probability of same-day PCI, representing an increase of 7.1% from the 49.7% base rate and a 4.6% relative increase (2.97 percentage points [95% CI, 0.1-5.85]) in the probability of receiving PCI at any time during the hospitalization. There was a 1.84 percentage point decrease (95% CI, -3.31 to -0.37) in the probability of receiving fibrinolytics. For 7-day mortality, regionalization was associated with a 0.53 (95% CI, -1 to -0.06) percentage point greater reduction (representing 5.8% off the base rate of 9.1%) and a 1.75 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of all-cause 30-day readmission (95% CI, -3.39 to -0.11; representing 6.4% off the base rate of 27.4%). No differences were found in longer-term mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with STEMI in California from 2006 to 2015, STEMI regionalization was associated with increased access to a PCI-capable hospital, greater use of PCI, lower 7-day mortality, and lower 30-day readmissions.

STEMI Equivalents and Their Incidence during EMS Transport

Objective: The management of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is time-critical, with a focus on early reperfusion to decrease morbidity and mortality. It is imperative that prehospital clinicians recognize STEMI early and initiate transport to hospitals capable of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a door-to-balloon time of ≤90 minutes. Three patterns have been identified as STEMI equivalents that also likely warrant prompt attention and potentially PCI: Wellens syndrome, De Winter T waves, and aVR ST elevation. The goal of our study was to assess the incidence of these findings in prehospital patients presenting with chest pain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review from a large urban tertiary care emergency department. We reviewed the prehospital ECG, or ECG upon arrival, of 861 patients who were hospitalized and required cardiac catheterization between 4/10/18 and 5/7/19. Patients who had field catheterization lab activation by EMS for STEMI were excluded. If a prehospital ECG was not available for review, the first ECG obtained in the hospital was used as a proxy. Each ECG was screened for aVR elevation, De Winter T waves, and Wellens syndrome. Results: Of 278 charts with prehospital ECGs available, 12 met our criteria for STEMI equivalency (4.4%): 6 Wellens syndrome and 6 aVR STEMI. There were no cases of De Winters T waves. Of 573 charts with no prehospital ECG available, 27 had initial hospital ECGs that met our STEMI equivalent criteria (4.7%): 7 Wellens syndrome and 20 aVR STEMI. Again, there were no cases of De Winters T waves. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that there are significant numbers of patients whose prehospital ECG findings do not currently meet criteria for field activation of the cardiac catheterization lab, but who may require prompt catheterization. Further studies are needed to look at outcomes, but these results could support the need for further education of prehospital clinicians regarding recognition of these STEMI equivalents, as well as quality initiatives aimed at decreasing door-to-balloon time for patients with STEMI equivalents.

Presentation, management, and outcomes of STEMI in Egypt: results from the European Society of Cardiology Registry on ST elevation myocardial infarction

Background

Apart from few small single-center studies, there are limited data about STEMI patients in Egypt. Nineteen Egyptian centers (with and without PCI facilities) participated in this registry with 1356 patients who were compared to 7420 patients from other ESC countries. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of patients with STEMI, to assess STEMI management patterns particularly the current use of reperfusion therapies, to evaluate the organization of STEMI networks across Egypt, to evaluate in-hospital patient outcome, and to compare Egyptian patients with other ESC countries.

Results

Compared to other ESC countries, Egyptian patients were younger (mean age 55.4 ± 11.3 vs. 62.9 ± 12.4; p < 0.001 and 4.36% vs. 19.41%% were ≥ 75 years old; p < 0.001) with fewer females (18.44% vs. 25.63%; p < 0.001). Egypt had longer median time between symptoms onset and first medical contact: 120.0 (60.0; 240.0) vs.100.0 (50.0; 240.0) p < 0.001. Self-presentation rather than EMS presentation was the mode of admission in 86.06% in Egypt vs. 25.83% in EU countries (p < 0.001). On qualifying ECG, anterior STEMI was in 57.08% in Egypt vs. 45.98% in other countries (p < 0.001). Initial reperfusion therapy was 49.12%, 43.07%, and 7.26% for primary PCI, thrombolytic therapy and no reperfusion in Egypt vs. 85.42%, 7.26%, and 7.82% for EU countries, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 4.65% in Egypt vs. 3.50% in other countries p 0.040 and was 18.87% in no reperfusion vs. 2.10% in primary PCI vs. 4.97% in thrombolysis (p < 0.001) among Egyptians. Patients were discharged on aspirin in 98.61%, clopidogrel in 91.07%, ticagrelor in 7.31%, DAPT in 97.69%, beta blockers in 82.83%, ACE inhibitors in 84.76%, MRAs in 10.01%, and statins in 99.77%.

Conclusion

Compared to other ESC countries, Egyptian STEMI patients were younger, more frequently current smokers and diabetics, and had longer time between symptoms onset and first medical contact with more self-presentation rather than EMS presentation. Thrombolytic therapy is still a common reperfusion therapy in Egypt while primary PCI was offered to half of the patients. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in Egypt and was highest among no reperfusion patients and lowest among PPCI patients.

Evaluation of STEMI Regionalization on Access, Treatment, and Outcomes Among Adults Living in Nonminority and Minority Communities

IMPORTANCE

Cardiac care regionalization, specifically for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), has been touted as a potential mechanism to reduce systematic disparities by protocolizing the treatment of these conditions. However, it is unknown whether such regionalization arrangements have widened or narrowed disparities in access, treatment, and outcomes for minority communities.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent to which disparities in access, treatment, and outcomes have changed for patients with STEMI living in zip codes that are in the top tertile of the Black or Hispanic population compared with patients in nonminority zip codes in regionalized vs nonregionalized counties.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used a quasi-experimental approach exploiting the different timing of regionalization across California. Nonpublic inpatient data for all patients with STEMI from January 1, 2006, to October 31, 2015, were analyzed using a difference-in-difference-in-differences estimation approach.

EXPOSURE

Exposure to the intervention was defined as on and after the year a patient's county was exposed to regionalization.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Access to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-capable hospital, receipt of PCI on the same day and at any time during the hospitalization, and time-specific all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

This study included 139 494 patients with STEMI; 61.9% of patients were non-Hispanic White, 5.6% Black, 17.8% Hispanic, and 9.0% Asian; 32.8% were women. Access to PCI-capable hospitals improved by 6.3 percentage points (95% CI, 5.5 to 7.1 percentage points; P < .001) when patients in nonminority communities were exposed to regionalization. Patients in minority communities experienced a 1.8-percentage point smaller improvement in access (95% CI, -2.8 to -0.8 percentage points; P < .001), or 28.9% smaller, compared with those in nonminority communities when both were exposed to regionalization. Regionalization was associated with an improvement to same-day PCI and in-hospital PCI by 5.1 percentage points (95% CI, 4.2 to 6.1 percentage points; P < .001) and 5.0 percentage points (95% CI, 4.2 to 5.9 percentage points; P < .001), respectively, for patients in nonminority communities. Patients in minority communities experienced only 33.3% and 15.1% of that benefit. Only White patients in nonminority communities experienced mortality improvement from regionalization.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although regionalization was associated with improved access to PCI hospitals and receipt of PCI treatment, patients in minority communities derived significantly smaller improvement relative to those in nonminority communities.

Implementing a Statewide Prehospital Sepsis Protocol: Perspectives of Emergency Medical Services Medical Directors

Background

Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires prompt recognition and treatment. Multiple Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies across the United States have implemented sepsis protocols. In 2016, Maryland instituted its own state-wide EMS sepsis protocol which includes fluid resuscitation, vasopressor administration, and requires alerting the hospital of an incoming sepsis patient.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to quantify the perspectives of EMS medical directors in Maryland regarding prehospital sepsis care and to identify challenges encountered during the implementation of the statewide sepsis protocol.

Methods

A 17-question survey was sent to all 24 jurisdictional medical directors in the state of Maryland.

Results

A total of 14 (58%) medical directors responded, representing four of the five EMS regions in the state. More than half (57%) stated sepsis alerting was a priority in their jurisdiction; however, in a listing of eight initiatives, sepsis was the least prioritized. Most (64%) respondents believed their clinicians had adequate training on sepsis. A majority (79%) of medical directors surveyed felt that core measures of sepsis management would be beneficial. The potentially most helpful core measures were the volume of IV fluid administration (92%), true positive sepsis alerts (83%), and cases of failure to activate a sepsis alert (75%). Engagement of field personnel was rated as the biggest challenge for the implementation of a sepsis protocol in general, and lack of a thermometer on EMS units (50%) was the largest hurdle specifically in the 2016 statewide sepsis protocol. Surveyed medical directors (86%) believe the most difficult obstacle to overcome for EMS clinicians in the treatment of sepsis are nonspecific signs and symptoms.

Conclusions

Prehospital sepsis care was viewed to be important amongst the medical directors surveyed. However, significant challenges to implementation of a sepsis protocol and delivery of prehospital sepsis care are perceived by jurisdictional medical directors. Additional investment and dedication to sepsis care will advance prehospital sepsis treatment in Maryland.

Effect of percutaneous coronary intervention team prenotification based on real time electrocardiogram transmission in interhospital transfer of ST elevation myocardial infarction patients: pilot trial of Preparing Revascularization Effort before Patients' Arrival via Regionalization Engagement protocol

Objective

Prompt reperfusion is important for patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, patients often require interhospital transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) because not all hospitals can provide. The purpose of this study is to reduce the PCI delay using a regionalization protocol in patients with STEMI following transfer from another hospital lacking PCI facility.

Methods

We established a revascularization protocol designated as Preparing Revascularization Effort before Patients’ Arrival via Regionalization Engagement (PREPARE) for the STEMI patients transferred from an outside regional hospital. The protocol included immediate referral acceptance by an emergency physician, real-time electrocardiogram sharing via mobile phone and early activation of the PCI team. We analyzed the differences between the PREPARE and the non-PREPARE groups.

Results

In the PREPARE group, the median time from the first hospital visit to the ballooning procedure via PCI at the receiving facility (D1-to-B time) was 111.0 (interquartile range 97.0– 130.0) minutes, which was significantly shorter than in the non-PREPARE group 134.0 (interquartile range 115.0–182.0) minutes. The proportion of D1-to-B time within 120 minutes was 30.4% in the group and 60.0% in the PREPARE group, which represents a significant difference (P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patient transfer via PREPARE protocol (odds ratio, 3.399; 95% confidence interval, 1.150–10.050, P=0.027) was related to adequate D1-to-B time. No statistically significant differences were found in the hospital length of stay or major adverse cardiac events within 4 weeks.

Conclusion

The PREPARE protocol is an effective strategy to reduce the time to revascularization of the transferred STEMI patients.

Implementation of Best Practices-Developing and Optimizing Regional Systems of Stroke Care: Design and Methodology

The AHA Guidelines recommend developing multi-tiered systems for the care of patients with acute stroke.¹ An ideal stroke system of care should ensure that all patients receive the most efficient and timely care, regardless of how they first enter or access the medical care system. Coordination among the components of a stroke system is the most challenging but most essential aspect of any system of care. The Implementation of Best Practices For Acute Stroke Care-Developing and Optimizing Regional Systems of Stroke Care (IMPROVE Stroke Care) project, is designed to implement existing guidelines and systematically improve the acute stroke system of care in the Southeastern United States. Project participation includes 9 hub hospitals, approximately 80 spoke hospitals, numerous pre-hospital agencies (911, fire, and emergency medical services) and communities within the region. The goal of the IMPROVE Stroke program is to develop a regional integrated stroke care system that identifies, classifies, and treats acute ischemic stroke patients more rapidly and effectively with reperfusion therapy. The project will identify gaps and barriers to implementation of stroke systems of care, leverage existing resources within the regions, aid in designing strategies to improve care processes, bring regional representatives together to agree on and implement best practices, protocols, and plans based on guidelines, and establish methods to monitor quality of care. The impact of implementation of stroke systems of care on mortality and long-term functional outcomes will be measured.

Mobile Intensive Care Unit versus Hospital walk-in patients, in the treatment of first episode ST- elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of the attention given by emergency medical services teams working in mobile intensive care units (MICU) versus patients arriving at the hospital under their own means with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) event in terms of time to reperfusion (TR), mortality at 30 days and six months.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 634 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent primary a percutaneous coronary intervention from January 1st 2015 to December 31st 2018 in a single centre. Depending on the first medical contact patients were classified into two groups, MICU versus walk-in patients. We extracted data on patients' characteristics, symptoms, treatments, times to reperfusion and mortality.

RESULTS

In our study 634 patients were included, of whom 59.0% were initially attended by the MICU. Differences were seen between the two groups in time delays to the first medical contact (120.0 vs 63.0 min; p < 0.001) and TR (208.0 Vs 150.0 min; p < 0.001). Patients attended by the MICUs presented a shorter ICU and hospital stay. The lowest 30-day mortality rate was observed in MICU group: 9.0% in contrast with 4.5%, p = 0.03; remaining after 6 months. The multivariable analysis showed that the initial attention given by MICU to STEMI patients was a protective agent against mortality [OR: 0.32 (0.11-0.90); p = 0.03].

CONCLUSION

Initial attention of the patients with STEMI by doctor-on-board-MICU and available 24 h a day 7 days a week as part of a regional network (CORECAM), was associated with a decrease in the ischemia time, hospital stay and mortality of these patients in our environment.

Prompt Administration of Antibiotics and Fluids in the Treatment of Sepsis: A Murine Trial

OBJECTIVES

Sepsis, the acute organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, poses a serious public health burden. Current management includes early detection, initiation of antibiotics and fluids, and source control as necessary. Although observational data suggest that delays of even a few hours in the initiation of antibiotics or IV fluids is associated with survival, these findings are controversial. There are no randomized data in humans, and prior animal studies studied time from experimental manipulation, not from the onset of clinical features of sepsis. Using a recently developed murine cecal ligation and puncture model that precisely monitors physiologic deterioration, we hypothesize that incremental hourly delays in the first dose of antibiotics, in the first bolus of fluid resuscitation, or a combination of the two at a clinically relevant point of physiologic deterioration during polymicrobial sepsis will shorten survival.

DESIGN

Randomized laboratory animal experimental trial.

SETTING

University basic science laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Male C57BL/6J, female C57BL/6J, aged (40-50 wk old) male C57BL/6J, and BALB/C mice.

INTERVENTIONS

Mice (n = 200) underwent biotelemetry-enhanced cecal ligation and puncture and were randomized after meeting validated criteria for acute physiologic deterioration. Treatment groups consisted of a single dose of imipenem/cilastatin, a single bolus of 30 mL/kg fluid resuscitation, or a combination of the two. Mice were allocated to receive treatment at the time of meeting deterioration criteria, after a 2-hour delay or after a 4-hour delay.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Hourly delays in the initiation of antibiotic therapy led to progressively shortened survival in our model (p < 0.001). The addition of fluid resuscitation was unable to rescue animals, which received treatment 4 hours after meeting enrollment criteria. Systemic inflammation was increased, and host physiology was increasingly deranged with hourly delays to antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that antibiotic therapy is highly time sensitive, and efforts should be made to deliver this critical therapy as early as possible in sepsis, perhaps extending into the first point of medical contact outside the hospital.

Impact of Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers on Myocardial Infarction Patients in Korea: A Fixed-effects Model

Objectives

The Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center (RCCVC) Project designated local teaching hospitals as RCCVCs, in order to improve patient outcomes of acute cardiocerebrovascular emergencies by founding a regional system that can adequately transfer and manage patients within 3 hours. We investigated the effects of RCCVC establishment on treatment volume and 30-day mortality.

Methods

We constructed a panel dataset by extracting all acute myocardial infarction cases that occurred from 2007 to 2016 from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims data, a national and representative source. We then used a panel fixed-effect model to estimate the impacts of RCCVC establishment on patient outcomes.

Results

We found that the number of cases of acute myocardial infarction that were treated increased chronologically, but when the time effect and other related covariates were controlled for, RCCVCs only significantly increased the number of treatment cases of female in large catchment areas. There was no statistically significant impact on 30-day mortality.

Conclusions

The establishment of RCCVCs increased the number of treatment cases of female, without increasing the mortality rate. Therefore, the RCCVCs might have prevented potential untreated deaths by increasing the preparedness and capacity of hospitals to treat acute myocardial infarction patients.

Factors associated with door-in to door-out delays among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND

Compared to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who present at centres with catheterization facilities, those transferred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have substantially longer door-in to door-out (DIDO) times, where DIDO is defined as the time interval from arrival at a non-PCI hospital, to transfer to a PCI hospital. We aimed to identify potentially modifiable factors to improve DIDO times in Ontario, Canada and to assess the impact of DIDO times on 30-day mortality.

METHODS

A population-based, retrospective cohort study of 966 STEMI patients transferred for primary PCI in Ontario in 2012 was conducted. Baseline factors were examined across timely DIDO status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine independent predictors of timely DIDO as well as the association between DIDO times and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

The median DIDO time was 55 min, with 20.1% of patients achieving the recommended DIDO benchmark of ≤30 min. Age (OR> 75 vs 18-55 0.30, 95% CI: 0.16-0.56), symptom-to-first medical contact (FMC) time (OR61-120mins vs < 60mins 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.90; OR>120mins vs < 60mins 0.53, 95% CI:0.35-0.81) and emergency medical services transport with a pre-hospital electrocardiogram (ECG) (OREMS transport + ECG vs self-transport 2.63, 95% CI:1.59-4.35) were the strongest predictors of timely DIDO. Patients with timely ECG were more likely to have recommended DIDO times (33.0% vs 12.3%; P < 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of those who met the DIDO benchmark had timely FMC-to-balloon times (78.7% vs 27.4%; P < 0.001). Compared to patients with DIDO time ≤ 30 min, those with DIDO times > 90 min had significantly higher adjusted 30-day mortality rates (OR 2.82, 95% CI:1.10-7.19).

CONCLUSIONS

While benchmark DIDO times were still rarely achieved in the province, we identified several potentially modifiable factors in the STEMI system that might be targeted to improve DIDO times. Our findings that patients who received a pre-hospital ECG were still being transferred to non-PCI capable centres suggest strategies addressing this gap may improve patient outcomes.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndrome in Chinese Military Hospitals, 2011-2014: a retrospective observational study of a national registry

OBJECTIVES

Interventional treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is surging dramatically in China in recent years, whereas nationwide assessments of the quality of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedural performance and outcomes are scarce. We aimed to provide an updated and real-world overview of the performance of PCI in patients with ACS since 2011 in China after the China PEACE study from 2001 to 2011.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, data were extracted from the National Registry of Cardiovascular Intervention in Military Hospitals database to create a national sample of 144 659 patients with ACS undergoing PCI at 117 military hospitals in all regions of China from calendar years 2011-2014. Patient characteristics, procedural performance, PCI outcomes and adverse events and temporal changes were analysed.

RESULTS

During 2011-2014, patients with ACS undergoing PCI increased dramatically. Small numbers of high-volume hospitals performed the majority of PCI procedures. However, only half of these patients were adequately covered and proportions for the use of assisted devices and novel medications were relatively small. Radial artery access was still increasing with time. Primary PCIs were performed on 45.4% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with PCI procedures. 3.8% lesion vessels involve left main artery. Implanted stents, the overall complications and in-hospital mortality were decreasing remarkably.

CONCLUSIONS

In Chinese military hospitals, interventional resources were limited with great regional disparities, there are still gaps to be filled to better serve patients with ACS. Our findings can serve as an indispensable supplement to a more comprehensive understanding of the practice of contemporary cardiac intervention in China.

Developing a Rural, Community-Based Registry for Cardiovascular Quality Improvement

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death, yet most evidence is collected from small clinical trials or individual hospital providers. Achieving scalable data to enable quality improvements (QIs) remains a challenge. We investigate whether a registry that is shared by multiple providers and integrates data longitudinally could help drive QIs across a large rural geographic region.

METHODS

We describe a case study involving the development of an informatics infrastructure across the entire state of Wyoming. This rural, regional, community-based cardiovascular system of care involved all interventional hospitals in the state as well as all surrounding states. Data exchange was initiated between 36 hospitals, and 56 ambulance agencies, to a centralized registry for clinical analytics and QI for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

RESULTS

After 3 years, the registry maintained all documented acute myocardial infarctions across Wyoming. Median total ischemic time (time from patient's symptom onset to definitive treatment) had a 36.7% improvement during the program. Changes in quality for the rural community included reduction in overall treatment times, as well as enhanced training, standardized protocols, and community awareness. We also share key lessons learned.

CONCLUSIONS

Collaborative data registries for emergency cardiovascular care can help providers and communities measure and improve the quality of the care across regions.

Interfacility Transport of the Pregnant Patient: A 5-year Retrospective Review of a Single Critical Care Transport Program

INTRODUCTION

Interfacility transport of the pregnant patient poses a challenge for prehospital providers as it is an infrequent but potentially high acuity encounter. Knowledge of clinically significant events (CSEs) that occur during these transports is important both to optimize patient safety and also to help enhance crew training and preparedness. This study evaluated a critical care transport program's 5-year longitudinal experience transporting pregnant patients by ground and air, and described CSEs that occurred during the out-of-hospital phase of care.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of pregnant patients transported by a single critical care transport system into and within a large academic healthcare system. Patients who were pregnant, and were transported from a referring facility to one of the 2 receiving centers within Johns Hopkins Health System between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 were included in this study. The primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of a predefined clinically significant event (CSE) during transport, while a secondary outcome of interest was the indication for transfer.

RESULTS

During the study period 1,223 pregnant patients were transported by our critical care transport service. There were 1,101 patients who met inclusion criteria; 693 (62.9%) of whom were transported by ground and 408 (37.1%) who were transported by rotor wing aircraft. The top 3 indications for transfer comprised 71.4% of all patients and included; preterm labor, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and other maternal life threatening disorder. The most common events that occurred across all transports were: exacerbation of hypertensive disease requiring intervention (4.5%), hypotension (1.3%), and altered mental status (0.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence of CSEs during the interfacility transport of pregnant patients within our critical care transport system is low (6.0%). Knowledge of the clinically significant events that occur during EMS transport is a vital component of ensuring system quality and optimizing patient safety. This data can be used to augment and focus provider education and training to mitigate and optimize response to future events.

Modern Management of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Disruption of intracoronary plaque with thrombus formation resulting in severe or total occlusion of the culprit coronary artery provides the pathophysiologic foundation for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Management of STEMI focuses on timely restoration of coronary blood flow along with antithrombotic therapies and secondary prevention strategies. The purpose of this review is to discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of STEMI. In addition, the review will focus on guideline-directed therapy for these patients and review potential associated complications.

Implementation of a Regional Network for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Care and 30-Day Mortality in a Low- to Middle-Income City in Brazil: Findings From Salvador's STEMI Registry (RESISST)

Background

Few data exist on regional systems of care for the treatment of ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in developing countries. Our objective was to describe temporal trends in 30‐day mortality and identify predictors of mortality among STEMI patients enrolled in a prospective registry in Brazil.

Methods and Results

From January 2011 to June 2013, 520 patients who received initial STEMI care at 23 nonspecialized public health units or hospitals, some of whom were transferred to a public cardiology referral center, were identified through a regional STEMI network supported by telemedicine and the local prehospital emergency medical service. We stratified patients into five 6‐month periods based on presentation date. Mean age (±SD) of patients was 62.0 (±12.2) years, and 55.6% were men. The mean Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score was 145 (±34). Overall mortality at 30 days was 15.0%. Use of dual antiplatelet therapy and statins increased significantly from baseline (January 2011) to period 5 (June 2013): 61.8% to 93.6% (P<0.001) and 60.4% to 79.7% (P<0.001), respectively. Rates of primary reperfusion also increased (29.1%–53.8%; P<0.001), and more patients were transferred to the referral center (44.7%–76.3%; P=0.001). Thirty‐day mortality rates decreased from 19.8% to 5.1% (P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, factors independently associated with 30‐day mortality were higher GRACE score, history of previous stroke, lack of transfer to the referral center, and lack of use of optimized medical therapy.

Conclusions

Implementation of a regional STEMI system was associated with lower mortality and higher use of evidence‐based therapies.

Contemporary Patterns of Early Coronary Angiography Use in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the United States: Insights From the National Cardiovascular Data Registry Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network Registry

OBJECTIVES

The study sought to characterize patient- and hospital-level variation in early angiography use among non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.

BACKGROUND

Contemporary implementation of guideline recommendations for early angiography use in NSTEMI patients in the United States have not been described.

METHODS

The study analyzed NSTEMI patients included in ACTION (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network) registry (2012 to 2014) who underwent in-hospital angiography. Timing of angiography was categorized as early (≤24 h) vs. delayed (>24 h). The study evaluated factors associated with early angiography, hospital-level variation in early angiography use, and the relationship with quality-of-care measures.

RESULTS

A total of 79,760 of 138,688 (57.5%) patients underwent early angiography. Factors most strongly associated with delayed angiography included weekend or holiday presentation, lower initial troponin ratio values, higher initial creatinine values, heart failure on presentation, and older age. Median hospital-level use of early angiography was 58.5% with wide variation across hospitals (21.7% to 100.0%). Patient characteristics did not differ substantially across hospitals grouped by tertiles of early angiography use (low, middle, and high). Hospitals in the highest tertile tended to more commonly use guideline-recommended medications and had higher defect-free care quality scores.

CONCLUSIONS

In contemporary U.S. practice, high-risk clinical characteristics were associated with lower use of early angiography in NSTEMI patients; hospital-level use of early angiography varied widely despite few differences in case mix. Hospitals that most commonly utilized early angiography also had higher quality-of-care metrics, highlighting the need for improved NSTEMI guideline adherence.

Comprehensive electrocardiogram-to-device time for primary percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A report from the American Heart Association mission: Lifeline program

BACKGROUND

Assessing hospital-related network-level primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performance for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is challenging due to differential time-to-treatment metrics based on location of diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) for STEMI.

METHODS

STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI at 588 PCI-capable hospitals in AHA Mission: Lifeline (2008-2013) were categorized by initial STEMI identification location: PCI-capable hospitals (Group 1); pre-hospital setting (Group 2); and non-PCI-capable hospitals (Group 3). Patient-specific time-to-treatment categories were converted to minutes ahead of or behind their group-specific mean; average time-to-treatment difference for all patients at a given hospital was termed comprehensive ECG-to-device time. Hospitals were then stratified into tertiles based on their comprehensive ECG-to-device times with negative values below the mean representing shorter (faster) time intervals.

RESULTS

Of 117,857 patients, the proportion in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 42%, 33%, and 25%, respectively. Lower rates of heart failure and cardiac arrest at presentation are noted within patients presenting to high-performing hospitals. Median comprehensive ECG-to-device time was shortest at -9 minutes (25th, 75th percentiles: -13, -6) for the high-performing hospital tertile, 1 minute (-1, 3) for middle-performing, and 11 minutes (7, 16) for low-performing. Unadjusted rates of in-hospital mortality were 2.3%, 2.6%, and 2.7%, respectively, but the adjusted risk of in-hospital mortality was similar across tertiles.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive ECG-to-device time provides an integrated hospital-related network-level assessment of reperfusion timing metrics for primary PCI, regardless of the location for STEMI identification; further validation will delineate how this metric can be used to facilitate STEMI care improvements.

Impact of Regionalization of ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care on Treatment Times and Outcomes for Emergency Medical Services–Transported Patients Presenting to Hospitals With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background:

Regional variations in reperfusion times and mortality in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction are influenced by differences in coordinating care between emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals. Building on the Accelerator-1 Project, we hypothesized that time to reperfusion could be further reduced with enhanced regional efforts.

Methods:

Between April 2015 and March 2017, we worked with 12 metropolitan regions across the United States with 132 percutaneous coronary intervention–capable hospitals and 946 EMS agencies. Data were collected in the ACTION (Acute Coronary Treatment and Intervention Outcomes Network)-Get With The Guidelines Registry for quarterly Mission: Lifeline reports. The primary end point was the change in the proportion of EMS-transported patients with first medical contact to device time ≤90 minutes from baseline to final quarter. We also compared treatment times and mortality with patients treated in hospitals not participating in the project during the corresponding time period.

Results:

During the study period, 10 730 patients were transported to percutaneous coronary intervention–capable hospitals, including 974 in the baseline quarter and 972 in the final quarter who met inclusion criteria. Median age was 61 years; 27% were women, 6% had cardiac arrest, and 6% had shock on admission; 10% were black, 12% were Latino, and 10% were uninsured. By the end of the intervention, all process measures reflecting coordination between EMS and hospitals had improved, including the proportion of patients with a first medical contact to device time of ≤90 minutes (67%–74%; P <0.002), a first medical contact to device time to catheterization laboratory activation of ≤20 minutes (38%–56%; P <0.0001), and emergency department dwell time of ≤20 minutes (33%–43%; P <0.0001). Of the 12 regions, 9 regions reduced first medical contact to device time, and 8 met or exceeded the national goal of 75% of patients treated in ≤90 minutes. Improvements in treatment times corresponded with a significant reduction in mortality (in-hospital death, 4.4%–2.3%; P =0.001) that was not apparent in hospitals not participating in the project during the same time period.

Conclusions:

Organization of care among EMS and hospitals in 12 regions was associated with significant reductions in time to reperfusion in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction as well as in in-hospital mortality. These findings support a more intensive regional approach to emergency care for patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction.

Fibrinolytic treatment of ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the preferred reperfusion therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as long as it can be delivered within 90-120 minutes from patient’s first medical contact, and is the leading reperfusion strategy in most European countries. However, as PPCI cannot be offered in a timely manner to all patients, fibrinolytic therapy (FT) is the recommended choice in patients with an anticipated delay to PPCI of >90-120 minutes, presenting early after symptom onset and without contra-indications. FT should preferably be started in the pre-hospital setting. Following FT, all patients should be transferred to a PCI-center for rescue PCI or routine coronary angiography with PCI as indicated. Such a pharmaco-invasive strategy, combining FT with invasive treatment, has recently been shown to be non-inferior to PPCI in patients living in areas with long transfer delays to PCI (>60 minutes).

In this overview, we will briefly present the evidence for the benefit of FT in STEMI, and discuss the role of FT in the current era of PPCI as well as the optimal treatment following pharmacologic reperfusion.

Regional "Call 911" Emergency Department Protocol to Reduce Interfacility Transfer Delay for Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the first-medical-contact-to-balloon (FMC2B) time after implementation of a "Call 911" protocol for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) interfacility transfers in a regional system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with STEMI requiring interfacility transfer from a STEMI referring hospital, to one of 35 percutaneous coronary intervention-capable STEMI receiving centers (SRCs). The Call 911 protocol allows the referring physician to activate 911 to transport a patient with STEMI to the nearest SRC for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with interfacility transfers were identified over a 4-year period (2011-2014) from a registry to which SRCs report treatment and outcomes for all patients with STEMI transported via 911. The primary outcomes were median FMC2B time and the proportion of patients achieving the 120-minute goal. FMC2B for primary 911 transports were calculated to serve as a system reference. There were 2471 patients with STEMI transferred to SRCs by 911 transport during the study period, of whom 1942 (79%) had emergent coronary angiography and 1410 (73%) received percutaneous coronary intervention. The median age was 61 years (interquartile range [IQR] 52-71) and 73% were men. The median FMC2B time was 111 minutes (IQR 88-153) with 56% of patients meeting the 120-minute goal. The median STEMI referring hospital door-in-door-out time was 53 minutes (IQR 37-89), emergency medical services transport time was 9 minutes (IQR 7-12), and SRC door-to-balloon time was 44 minutes (IQR 32-60). For primary 911 patients (N=4827), the median FMC2B time was 81 minutes (IQR 67-97).

CONCLUSIONS

Using a Call 911 protocol in this regional cardiac care system, patients with STEMI requiring interfacility transfers had a median FMC2B time of 111 minutes, with 56% meeting the 120-minute goal.

Appropriateness and Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at Top-Ranked and Nonranked Hospitals in the United States

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare the appropriate use and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between top-ranked and nonranked hospitals.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" rankings are an influential consumer-directed publication of hospital quality, and are commonly used in promotional campaigns by hospital systems.

METHODS

Hospitals in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI registry between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015, were classified as top-ranked if they were included in the 2015 U.S. News & World Report 50 best "Cardiology and Heart Surgery" hospitals. The remaining were classified as nonranked. We compared in-hospital mortality, post-procedural bleeding, post-procedural acute kidney injury, and the proportion of appropriate PCI procedures between top-ranked and nonranked hospitals.

RESULTS

A total of 509,153 PCIs at 654 hospitals were included, of which 55,550 (10.9%) were performed at 44 top-ranked hospitals. After adjusting for patient case mix, PCIs performed at top-ranked hospitals had similar odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83 to 1.12; p = 0.64), acute kidney injury (aOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.22; p = 0.099), and bleeding (aOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.31; p = 0.052). Top-ranked hospitals had a slightly lower proportion of appropriate PCI compared with nonranked hospitals (89.2% vs. 92.8%; OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.69; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PCI performed at top-ranked hospitals was not associated with superior outcomes compared with PCI at nonranked hospitals. The inclusion of metrics based on clinical data may be important for hospital quality rankings.

Impact of Regional Systems of Care on Disparities in Care Among Female and Black Patients Presenting With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline STEMI (ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction) Systems Accelerator program, conducted in 16 regions across the United States to improve key care processes, resulted in more patients being treated within national guideline goals (time from first medical contact to device: <90 minutes for direct presenters to hospitals capable of performing percutaneous coronary intervention; <120 minutes for transfers). We examined whether the effort reduced reperfusion disparities in the proportions of female versus male and black versus white patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In total, 23 809 patients (29.3% female, 82.3% white, and 10.7% black) presented with acute STEMI between July 2012 and March 2014. Change in the proportion of patients treated within guideline goals was compared between sex and race subgroups for patients presenting directly to hospitals capable of performing percutaneous coronary intervention (n=18 267) and patients requiring transfer (n=5542). The intervention was associated with an increase in the proportion of men treated within guideline goals that presented directly (58.7-62.1%, P=0.01) or were transferred (43.3-50.7%, P<0.01). An increase was also seen among white patients who presented directly (57.7-59.9%, P=0.02) or were transferred (43.9-48.8%, P<0.01). There was no change in the proportion of female or black patients treated within guideline goals, including both those presenting directly and transferred.

CONCLUSION

The STEMI Systems Accelerator project was associated with an increase in the proportion of patients meeting guideline reperfusion targets for male and white patients but not for female or black patients. Efforts to organize systems of STEMI care should implement additional processes targeting barriers to timely reperfusion among female and black patients.