Implementation of Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Impact of hypertension on mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty: insights from the international multicenter ISACS-STEMI registry

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, with several detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Contrasting results have been reported so far on its prognostic role in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, we investigated the impact of hypertension on short-term mortality in a large multicenter contemporary registry of STEMI patients, including patients treated during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 was a retrospective registry that included STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between March and June of 2019 and 2020 in 109 high-volume primary PCI centers from 4 continents. We collected data on baseline, clinical and procedural characteristics, in-hospital outcome and 30-day mortality. For this analysis patients were grouped according to history of hypertension at admission.

RESULTS

A total of 16083 patients were assessed, including 8813 (54.8%) with history of hypertension. These patients were more often elderly, with a worse cardiovascular risk profile, but were less frequently active smoker. Some procedural differences were observed between the two groups, including lower rate of thrombectomy and use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors or cangrelor but more extensive coronary disease in patients with hypertension. Between patients with and without hypertension, there was no significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Hypertensive patients had a significantly higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality, similarly observed in both pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 era, and confirmed after adjustment for main baseline differences and propensity score (in-hospital mortality: adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] =1.673 [1.389-2.014], P  < 0.001; 30-day mortality: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% CI] = 1.418 [1.230-1.636], P  < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This is one of the largest and contemporary study assessing the impact of hypertension in STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty, including also the COVID-19 pandemic period. Hypertension was independently associated with significantly higher rates of in-hospital and 30-day mortality.

Pretreatment With Unfractionated Heparin in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction—A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are often pretreated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) before a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). UFH pretreatment is intended to lessen the thrombotic burden, but there have been conflicting study findings on its safety and efficacy. We assessed the risks and benefits of UFH pretreatment with a retrospective analysis of registry data from the STEMI network of a German metropolitan region.

METHODS

Data from patients with STEMI referred for PPCI from 2005 to 2020 were evaluated with an adjusted outcome analysis, including propensity score matching (PSM). The endpoints included the patency of the infarct-related artery (IRA) after PPCI, in-hospital mortality, access-site bleeding, and the peak creatine kinase (CK) level.

RESULTS

We assessed data from 4632 patients with STEMI: 4420 (95.4%) were pretreated with UFH, and 212 (4.6%) were not. After PSM of 511 vs. 187 patients, the adjusted odds ratios for the various endpoints were (pretreatment vs. no pretreatment, with 95% confidence intervals): for impaired flow of the IRA, 1.01 [0.59; 1.74]; for in-hospital mortality, 1.46 [0.88; 2.42]; and for access-site bleeding, 0.59 [0.14; 2.46]. The peak creatine kinase levels were similar in the two groups (median, 1248.0 vs. 1376.5 U/L, estimated difference -134 [-611; 341]).

CONCLUSION

UFH pretreatment was less frequently performed in STEMI patients who had undergone cardiopulmonary resuscitation. UFH pretreatment was not associated with increased access-site bleeding, nor was it found to have significantly higher efficacy with respect to the relevant endpoints. The risks and benefits of UFH pretreatment should be weighed individually in each case, as evidence from high-quality clinical trials is lacking. Data from the existing literature suggest that no pretreatment is an option to be considered, as are certain alternative antithrombotic strategies.

The Hypertension Paradox: Survival Benefit After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients With History of Hypertension. A Prospective Cohort- and Risk-Analysis

Background

Mortality after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is dependent from best-medical treatment after initial event.

Objectives

Determining the impact of prescription of guideline-recommended therapy after STEMI in two cohorts, patients with and without history of arterial hypertension, on survival.

Methods

1,025 patients of the Cologne Infarction Model registry with invasively adjudicated STEMI were dichotomized according to their history of arterial hypertension. We recorded prescription rates and dosing of RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins in all patients. The primary outcome was all-cause death. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years.

Results

Mean age was 64 ± 13 years, 246 (25%) were women. 749 (76%) patients had a history of hypertension. All-cause mortality was 24.2%, 30-day and 1-year mortality was 11.3% and 16.6%, respectively. History of hypertension correlated with lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], @30 days: 0.41 [0.27-0.62], @1 year: 0.37 [0.26-0.53]). After adjusting for age, sex, Killip-class, diabetes mellitus, body-mass index, kidney function and statin prescription at discharge 1-year mortality HR was 0.24 (0.12-0.48). At discharge, prescription rates for RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins, as well as individual dosing and long-term persistence of RAS-inhibitors were higher in patients with history of hypertension. On the same lines, prescription rates for RAS-inhibitors, β-blockers and statins at discharge correlated significantly with lower mortality regardless of history of hypertension.

Conclusion

Patients with history of hypertension show higher penetration of guideline recommended drug therapy after STEMI, which may contribute to better survival. Better tolerance of β-blockers and RAS-inhibitors in patients with history of hypertension, not hypertension itself, likely explains these differences in prescription and dosing.

Impact of respiratory infectious epidemics on STEMI incidence and care

The effect of respiratory infectious diseases on STEMI incidence, but also STEMI care is not well understood. The Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic were chosen as observational periods to investigate the effect of respiratory virus diseases on these outcomes in a metropolitan area with an established STEMI network. We analyzed data on incidence and care during the COVID-19 pandemic, Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and corresponding seasonal control periods. Three comparisons were performed: (1) COVID-19 pandemic group versus pandemic control group, (2) COVID-19 pandemic group versus Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic group and (3) Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic group versus epidemic control group. We used Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test and Chi square test for statistical analysis. 1455 patients were eligible. The daily STEMI incidence was 1.49 during the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.40 for the pandemic season control period, 1.22 during the Influenza 2017/2018 epidemic and 1.28 during the epidemic season control group. Median symptom-to-contact time was 180 min during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the pandemic season control group it was 90 min (p = 0.183), and in the Influenza 2017/2018 cohort it was 90 min, too (p = 0.216). Interval in the epidemic control group was 79 min (p = 0.733). The COVID-19 group had a door-to-balloon time of 49 min, corresponding intervals were 39 min for the pandemic season group (p = 0.038), 37 min for the Influenza 2017/2018 group (p = 0.421), and 38 min for the epidemic season control group (p = 0.429). In-hospital mortality was 6.1% for the COVID-19 group, 5.9% for the Influenza 2017/2018 group (p = 1.0), 11% and 11.2% for the season control groups. The respiratory virus diseases neither resulted in an overall treatment delay, nor did they cause an increase in STEMI mortality or incidence. The registry analysis demonstrated a prolonged door-to-balloon time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of the Type of First Medical Contact within a Guideline-Conform ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Network: A Prospective Observational Registry Study

Aims

The impact of type of first medical contact (FMC) in the setting of a guideline conform metropolitan ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) network providing obligatory primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear.

Methods and Results

3,312 patients were prospectively included between 2006 and 2012 into a registry accompanying the “Cologne Infarction Model” STEMI network, with 68.4% primarily presenting to emergency medical service (EMS), 17.6% to non-PCI-capable hospitals, and 14.0% to PCI-capable hospitals. Median contact-to-balloon time differed significantly by FMC with 89 minutes (IQR 72–115) for EMS, 107 minutes (IQR 85–148) for non-PCI- and 65 minutes (IQR 48–91) for PCI-capable hospitals (p < 0.001). TIMI-flow grade III and in-hospital mortality were 75.7% and 10.4% in EMS, 70.3% and 8.6% in non-PCI capable hospital and 84.4% and 5.6% in PCI-capable hospital presenters, respectively (p both < 0.01). The association of FMC with in-hospital mortality was not significant after adjustment for baseline characteristics, but risk of TIMI-flow grade < III remained significantly increased in patients presenting to non-PCI capable hospitals.

Conclusion

Despite differences in treatment delay by type of FMC in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly. The increased risk of TIMI-flow grade < III in patients presenting to non PCI-capable hospitals needs further study.

Reduction in treatment times through formalized data feedback: results from a prospective multicenter study of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to evaluate the effect of systematic data analysis and standardized feedback on treatment times and outcome in a prospective multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND

Formalized data feedback may reduce treatment times in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

Over a 15-month period, 1,183 patients presenting with STEMI were enrolled. Six primary percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals in Germany and 29 associated nonpercutaneous coronary intervention hospitals participated. Data from patient contact to balloon inflation were collected and analyzed. Pre-defined quality indicators, including the percentage of patients with pre-announced STEMI, direct handoff in the catheterization laboratory, contact-to-balloon time <90 min, door-to-balloon time <60 min, and door-to-balloon time <30 min were discussed with staff on a quarterly basis.

RESULTS

Median door-to-balloon time decreased from 71 to 58 min and contact-to-balloon time from 129 to 103 min between the first and the fifth quarter (p < 0.05 for both). Contributing were shorter stays in the emergency department, more direct handoffs from ambulances to the catheterization laboratory (from 22% to 38%, p < 0.05), and a slight increase in the number of patients transported directly to the percutaneous coronary intervention facility (primary transport). One-year mortality was reduced in the total group of patients and in the subgroup of patients with primary transport (p < 0.05). The sharpest fall in mortality was observed in patients with primary transport and TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) risk score ≥ 3 (n = 521) with a decrease in 30-day mortality from 23.1% to 13.3% (p < 0.05) and in 1-year mortality from 25.6% to 16.7% (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Formalized data feedback is associated with a reduction in treatment times for STEMI and with an improved prognosis, which is most pronounced in high-risk patients. (Feedback Intervention and Treatment Times in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction [FITT-STEMI]; NCT00794001).

Comparing emergency medical service systems--a project of the European Emergency Data (EED) Project

AIM

The aim of this prospective study was the comparison of four emergency medical service (EMS) systems-emergency physician (EP) and paramedic (PM) based-and the impact of advanced live support (ALS) on patients status in preclinical care.

METHODS

The EMS systems of Bonn (GER, EP), Cantabria (ESP, EP), Coventry (UK, PM) and Richmond (US, PM) were analysed in relation to quality of structure, process and performance when first diagnosis on scene was cardiac arrest (OHCA), chest pain or dyspnoea. Data were collected prospectively between 01.01.2001 and 31.12.2004 for at least 12 month.

RESULTS

Over all 6277 patients were included in this study. The rate of drug therapy was highest in the EP-based systems Bonn and Cantabria. Pain relief was more effective in Bonn in patients with severe chest pain. In the group of patients with chest pain and tachycardia ≥ 120 beats/min, the heart rate was reduced most effective by the EP-systems. In patients with dyspnoea and S(p)O(2) <90% the improvement of oxygen saturation was most effective in Bonn and Richmond. After OHCA significant more patients reached the hospital alive in EMS systems with EPs than in the paramedic staffed (Bonn = 35.6%, Cantabria = 30.1%; Coventry = 11.9%, Richmond = 9.2%). The introduction of a Load Distributing Band chest compression device in Richmond improved admittance rate after OHCA (21.7%) but did not reach the survival rate of the Bonn EMS system.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher qualification and greater training and experience of ALS unit personnel increased survival after OHCA and improved patient's status with cardiac chest pain and respiratory failure.