Background Although ST elevation (STEMI) and non-ST elevation (NSTEMI) myocardial infarction (AMI) have been the focus of intense clinical investigation, limited information exists on characteristics ...and hospital mortality of patients not enrolled in clinical trials. Previous large databases have reported declining mortality of patients with STEMI but have not noted substantial mortality change among those with NSTEMI. Methods The National Registry of Myocardial Infarction enrolled 2,515,106 patients at 2,157 US hospitals from 1990 to 2006. Of these, we evaluated 1,950,561 with diagnoses reflecting acute myocardial ischemia on admission. Results From 1990 to 2006, the proportion of NSTEMI increased from 14.2% to 59.1% ( P < .0001), whereas the proportion of STEMI decreased. Mean age increased (from 64.1 to 66.4 years, P < .0001) as did the proportion of females (from 32.4% to 37.0%, P < .0001). Patients were less likely to report prior angina, prior AMI, or family history of coronary artery disease but more likely to report history of diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, heart failure, prior revascularization, stroke, and hyperlipidemia. From 1994 to 2006, hospital mortality fell among all patients (10.4% to 6.3%), STEMI (11.5% to 8.0%), and NSTEMI (7.1% to 5.2%), (all P < .0001). After adjustment for baseline covariates, hospital mortality fell among all patients by 23.6% (odds ratio OR 0.764, 95% CI 0.744-0.785), STEMI by 24.2% (OR 0.758, 0.732-0.784), and NSTEMI by 22.6% (OR 0.774, 0.741-0.809), all P < .001. Conclusions This large, observational database from 1990 to 2006 shows increasing prevalence of NSTEMI and, despite higher risk profile on presentation, falling risk-adjusted hospital mortality in patients with either STEMI or NSTEMI.
Summary Background Cangrelor is a potent, rapid-acting, reversible intravenous platelet inhibitor that was tested for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in three large, double-blind, randomised ...trials. We did a pooled analysis of data from three trials that assessed the effectiveness of cangrelor against either clopidogrel or placebo in PCI. Methods This prespecified, pooled analysis of patient-level data from three trials (CHAMPION-PCI, CHAMPION-PLATFORM, and CHAMPION-PHOENIX) compared cangrelor with control (clopidogrel or placebo) for prevention of thrombotic complications during and after PCI. Trial participants were patients undergoing PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (11·6%), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (57·4%), and stable coronary artery disease (31·0%). Efficacy was assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population of 24 910 patients, with a prespecified primary efficacy composite of death, myocardial infarction, ischaemia-driven revascularisation, or stent thrombosis at 48 h. The primary safety outcome was non-coronary artery bypass graft-related GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries) severe or life-threatening bleeding at 48 h. Findings Cangrelor reduced the odds of the primary outcome by 19% (3·8% for cangrelor vs 4·7% for control; odds ratio OR 0·81, 95% CI 0·71–0·91, p=0·0007), and stent thrombosis by 41% (0·5% vs 0·8%, OR 0·59, 95% CI 0·43–0·80, p=0·0008). Cangrelor reduced the odds of the secondary triple composite (all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or ischaemia-driven revascularisation at 48 h) by 19% (3·6% vs 4·4%, OR 0·81, 95% CI 0·71–0·92, p=0·0014). Efficacy outcomes were consistent across the trials and main patient subsets. These benefits were maintained at 30 days. There was no difference in the primary safety outcome (0·2% in both groups), in GUSTO moderate bleeding (0·6% vs 0·4%), or in transfusion (0·7% vs 0·6%), but cangrelor increased GUSTO mild bleeding (16·8% vs 13·0%, p<0·0001). Interpretation Compared with control (clopidogrel or placebo), cangrelor reduced PCI periprocedural thrombotic complications, at the expense of increased bleeding. Funding The Medicines Company.
Background Among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), rapid reperfusion is associated with improved mortality. As such, door-to-needle (D2N) and door-to-balloon (D2B) ...times have become metrics of quality of care and targets for intense quality improvement. Methods The National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI) collected data regarding reperfusion therapy, its timing and in-hospital mortality among STEMI patients from 1990 through 2006. Results Since 1990, NRMI has enrolled 1,374,232 STEMI patients at 2,157 hospitals. Among those, 774,279 (56.3%) were eligible for reperfusion upon arrival. The proportion receiving fibrinolytic therapy fell from 52.5% in 1990 to 27.6% in 2006 ( P < .001), while the proportion undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) increased from 2.6% to 43.2%. Among reperfusion-eligible patients who received fibrinolytic therapy, there was a nearly linear decline in median D2N time from 59 minutes in 1990 to 29 minutes in 2006 ( P < .001 for trend) as well as a decrease in mortality from 7.0% in 1994 to 6.0% in 2006 ( P < .001). Among those undergoing pPCI, D2B time among nontransfer patients declined linearly from 111 minutes in 1994 to 79 minutes in 2006 ( P < .001) with a decline in mortality from 8.6% to 3.1% ( P < .001). The relative improvement in mortality attributable to improvements in D2N time was 16.3% and to D2B time was 7.5%. Conclusions Since 1990, there has been a progressive decline in D2N and D2B time among reperfusion-eligible STEMI patients. These improvements have contributed, at least in part, to a progressive decline in mortality.
Background Trends in the use of guideline-based treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as well as its association with patient outcomes have not been summarized in a large, longitudinal ...study. Furthermore, it is unknown whether gender-, race-, and age-based care disparities have narrowed over time. Methods and Results Using the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction database, we analyzed 2,515,106 patients with AMI admitted to 2,157 US hospitals between July 1990 and December 2006 to examine trends overall and in select subgroups of guideline-based admission, procedural, and discharge therapy use. The contribution of temporal improvements in acute care therapies to declines in in-hospital mortality was examined using logistic regression analysis. From 1990 to 2006, the use of all acute guideline-recommended therapies administered rose significantly for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and patients with non–ST-segment myocardial infarction but remained below 90% for most therapies. Cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention use increased in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and patients with non–ST-segment myocardial infarction, whereas coronary bypass surgery use declined in both groups. Despite overall care improvements, women, blacks, and patients ≥75 years old were significantly less likely to receive revascularization or discharge lipid-lowering therapy relative to their counterparts. Temporal improvements in acute therapies may account for up to 37% of the annual decline in risk for in-hospital AMI mortality. Conclusion Adherence to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology practice guidelines has improved care of patients with AMI and is associated with significant reductions in in-hospital mortality rates. However, persistent gaps in overall care as well as care disparities remain and suggest the need for ongoing quality improvement efforts.
Lipoprotein levels are currently recognized as independent risk factors for long-term cardiovascular events after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). During the acute-phase reaction after AMI, ...previous studies have reported trends of decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), increased triglycerides, and variable high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. However, the association between LDL-C and HDL-C levels and in-hospital mortality has not been well established following AMI. The relationship between lipid levels and in-hospital all-cause mortality in 115,492 patients hospitalized for AMI (July 2002 to December 2006), registered in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (NRMI) 4b–5, was evaluated using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Mean LDL-C was 104 ± 38, HDL-C was 41 ± 14, and triglycerides 143 ± 83 mg/dl. Compared with the lowest quartile of LDL-C (<77 mg/dl), the risk of in-hospital mortality in the second to fourth quartiles was decreased (adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 0.80, and 0.85, respectively). For HDL-C, only those in the lowest quartile (<31 mg/dl) had higher risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 1.20) compared with the highest quartile (≥47 mg/dl). Results from NRMI 4b–5 suggest a lipid paradox, with lower LDL-C levels associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality, contrary to findings outside the acute setting. Consistent with previous analyses, lowest HDL-C levels were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, further explorations of the relationship between very low levels of LDL-C, myocardial necrosis, and subsequent adverse cardiovascular events are warranted.
Few studies have examined the association between the number of coronary heart disease risk factors and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction in community practice.
To determine the association ...between the number of coronary heart disease risk factors in patients with first myocardial infarction and hospital mortality.
Observational study from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction, 1994-2006.
We examined the presence and absence of 5 major traditional coronary heart disease risk factors (hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and family history of coronary heart disease) and hospital mortality among 542,008 patients with first myocardial infarction and without prior cardiovascular disease.
All-cause in-hospital mortality.
A majority (85.6%) of patients who presented with initial myocardial infarction had at least 1 of the 5 coronary heart disease risk factors, and 14.4% had none of the 5 risk factors. Age varied inversely with the number of coronary heart disease risk factors, from a mean age of 71.5 years with 0 risk factors to 56.7 years with 5 risk factors (P for trend < .001). The total number of in-hospital deaths for all causes was 50,788. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality rates were 14.9%, 10.9%, 7.9%, 5.3%, 4.2%, and 3.6% for patients with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 risk factors, respectively. After adjusting for age and other clinical factors, there was an inverse association between the number of coronary heart disease risk factors and hospital mortality adjusted odds ratio (1.54; 95% CI, 1.23-1.94) among individuals with 0 vs 5 risk factors. This association was consistent among several age strata and important patient subgroups.
Among patients with incident acute myocardial infarction without prior cardiovascular disease, in-hospital mortality was inversely related to the number of coronary heart disease risk factors.
Rapid time to treatment with thrombolytic therapy is associated with lower mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, data on time to primary angioplasty and its ...relationship to mortality are inconclusive.
To test the hypothesis that more rapid time to reperfusion results in lower mortality in the strategy of primary angioplasty.
Prospective observational study of data collected from the Second National Registry of Myocardial Infarction between June 1994 and March 1998.
A total of 661 community and tertiary care hospitals in the United States.
A cohort of 27,080 consecutive patients with acute MI associated with ST-segment elevation or left bundle-branch block who were treated with primary angioplasty.
In-hospital mortality, compared by time from acute MI symptom onset to first balloon inflation and by time from hospital arrival to first balloon inflation (door-to-balloon time).
Using a multivariate logistic regression model, the adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality did not increase significantly with increasing delay from MI symptom onset to first balloon inflation. However, for door-to-balloon time (median time 1 hour 56 minutes), the adjusted odds of mortality were significantly increased by 41% to 62% for patients with door-to-balloon times longer than 2 hours (for 121-150 minutes: odds ratio OR, 1.41; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.08-1.84; P=.01; for 151-180 minutes: OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.23-2.14; P<.001; and for >180 minutes: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.25-2.08; P<.001).
The relationship in our study between increased mortality and delay in door-to-balloon time longer than 2 hours (present in nearly 50% of this cohort) suggests that physicians and health care systems should work to minimize door-to-balloon times and that door-to-balloon time should be considered when choosing a reperfusion strategy. Door-to-balloon time also appears to be a valid quality-of-care indicator. JAMA. 2000.
The introduction of Mission: Lifeline significantly increased timely access to percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In the years ...since, morbidity and mortality rates have declined, and research has led to significant developments that have broadened our concept of the STEMI system of care. However, significant barriers and opportunities remain. From community education to 9-1-1 activation and emergency medical services triage and from emergency department and interfacility transfer protocols to postacute care, each critical juncture presents unique challenges for the optimal care of patients with STEMI. This policy statement sets forth recommendations for how the ideal STEMI system of care should be designed and implemented to ensure that patients with STEMI receive the best evidence-based care at each stage in their illness.
Few studies have examined associations between atherosclerotic risk factors and short-term mortality after first myocardial infarction (MI). Histories of 5 traditional atherosclerotic risk factors at ...presentation (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, and family history of premature heart disease) and hospital mortality were examined among 542,008 patients with first MIs in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction (1994 to 2006). On initial MI presentation, history of hypertension (52.3%) was most common, followed by smoking (31.3%). The least common risk factor was diabetes (22.4%). Crude mortality was highest in patients with MI with diabetes (11.9%) and hypertension (9.8%) and lowest in those with smoking histories (5.4%) and dyslipidemia (4.6%). The inclusion of 5 atherosclerotic risk factors in a stepwise multivariate model contributed little toward predicting hospital mortality over age alone (C-statistic = 0.73 and 0.71, respectively). After extensive multivariate adjustments for clinical and sociodemographic factors, patients with MI with diabetes had higher odds of dying (odds ratio OR 1.23, 95% confidence interval CI 1.20 to 1.26) than those without diabetes and similarly for hypertension (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.11). Conversely, family history (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.73), dyslipidemia (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.64), and smoking (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.88) were associated with decreased mortality (C-statistic = 0.82 for the full model). In conclusion, in the setting of acute MI, histories of diabetes and hypertension are associated with higher hospital mortality, but the inclusion of atherosclerotic risk factors in models of hospital mortality does not improve predictive ability beyond other major clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.