A Nationwide Initiative to Improve Cardiology Quality: The Best Practice in Cardiology Program in Brazil. / Uma Iniciativa Nacional de Melhoria da Qualidade em Cardiologia: O Programa de Boas Práticas em Cardiologia no Brasil.

BACKGROUND: A Nationwide Initiative to Improve Cardiology Quality: The Best Practice in Cardiology Program in Brazil ACEI/ARB: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker; LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction; LVSD: left ventricular systolic dysfunction; AF: atrial fibrillation; PT/INR: prothrombin time/international normalized ratio. BACKGROUND: Despite significant progress in improving the quality of cardiovascular care, persistent gaps remain in terms of inconsistent adherence to guideline recommendations. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effects of implementing a quality improvement program adapted from the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines™ initiative on adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), atrial fibrillation (AF), and heart failure (HF). METHODS: We examined demographics, quality measures, and short-term outcomes in patients hospitalized with ACS, AF, and HF enrolled in the Best Practice in Cardiology (BPC) Program from 2016 to 2022. RESULTS: This study included 12,167 patients in 19 hospitals in Brazil. Mean age was 62.5 [53.8-71] y/o; 61.1% were male, 68.7% had hypertension, 32.0% diabetes mellitus, and 24.1% had dyslipidemia. Composite score had a sustainable performance in the period from baseline to the last quarter: 65.8±36.2% to 73± 31.2% for AF (p=0.024), 81.0± 23.6% to 89.9 ± 19.3% for HF (p<0.001), and from 88.0 ± 19.1 to 91.2 ±14.9 for ACS (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The BPC program is a quality improvement program in Brazil in which real-time data, obtained using cardiology guideline metrics, were implemented in a quality improvement program resulting in an overall sustained improvement in AF, HF, and ACS management.

Research opportunities for the primary prevention and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop report.

Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) encompasses the timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of the superficial group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections pharyngitis and impetigo. GAS is the only known inciting agent in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, sufficient evidence indicates that the uptake and delivery of primary prevention approaches in RHD-endemic regions are significantly suboptimal. This report presents expert deliberations on priority research and implementation opportunities for primary prevention of ARF/RHD that were developed as part of a workshop convened by the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in November 2021. The opportunities identified by the Primary Prevention Working Group encompass epidemiological, laboratory, clinical, implementation and dissemination research domains and are anchored on five pillars including: (A) to gain a better understanding of superficial GAS infection epidemiology to guide programmes and policies; (B) to improve diagnosis of superficial GAS infections in RHD endemic settings; (C) to develop scalable and sustainable models for delivery of primary prevention; (D) to understand potential downstream effects of the scale-up of primary prevention and (E) to develop and conduct economic evaluations of primary prevention strategies in RHD endemic settings. In view of the multisectoral stakeholders in primary prevention strategies, we emphasise the need for community co-design and government engagement, especially in the implementation and dissemination research arena. We present these opportunities as a reference point for research organisations and sponsors who aim to contribute to the increasing momentum towards the global control and prevention of RHD.

Penicillin Reactions in Patients With Severe Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association.

Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis with regular intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is the cornerstone of rheumatic heart disease management. However, there is a growing body of evidence that patients with rheumatic heart disease who have severe valvular heart disease with or without reduced ventricular function may be dying from cardiovascular compromise following BPG injections. This advisory responds to these concerns and is intended to: (1) raise awareness, (2) provide risk stratification, and (3) provide strategies for risk reduction. Based on available evidence and expert opinion, we have divided patients into low- and elevated-risk groups, based on symptoms and the severity of underlying heart disease. Patients with elevated risk include those with severe mitral stenosis, aortic stenosis, and aortic insuffiency; those with decreased left ventricular systolic dysfunction; and those with no symptoms. For these patients, we believe the risk of adverse reaction to BPG, specifically cardiovascular compromise, may outweigh its theoretical benefit. For patients with elevated risk, we newly advise that oral prophylaxis should be strongly considered. In addition, we advocate for a multifaceted strategy for vasovagal risk reduction in all patients with rheumatic heart disease receiving BPG. As current guidelines recommend, all low-risk patients without a history of penicillin allergy or anaphylaxis should continue to be prescribed BPG for secondary antibiotic prophylaxis. We publish this advisory in the hopes of saving lives and avoiding events that can have devastating effects on patient and clinician confidence in BPG.

Smoking and Provision of Smoking Cessation Interventions among Inpatients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in China: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome Project.

Highlights: Over half of male acute coronary syndrome patients were smokers in China.Smoking was associated with higher risk of critical cardiac symptoms at admission.Only 35.3% of smoking patients received smoking cessation interventions in China. Background: Smoking cessation is recognized as an effective and cost-effective strategy for improving the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease. Despite this, few studies have evaluated the smoking prevalence and provision of smoking cessation interventions among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in China. Objectives: To evaluate the smoking prevalence, clinical conditions and in-hospital outcomes associated with smoking, and the provision of smoking cessation interventions among ACS patients in China. Methods: This registry study was conducted using data from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China project, a collaborative nationwide registry of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. Our study sample comprised 92,509 ACS inpatients admitted between November 2014 and December 2018. A web-based data collection platform was used to report required data. Results: Smoking prevalence among male and female ACS patients was 52.4% and 8.0%, respectively. Patients younger than 45 years had the highest smoking rate (men: 68.0%; women: 14.9%). Compared with non-smokers, smokers had an earlier onset age of ACS and a greater proportion of severe clinical manifestations at admission, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (67.8% versus 54.8%; p < 0.001) and substantially elevated myocardial injury markers (86.1% versus 83.0%; p < 0.001). After multivariable adjustment, smoking was associated with higher risk of critical cardiac symptoms at admission (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08-1.20; p < 0.001) and had no direct association with in-hospital outcomes (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.84-1.02; p = 0.107) of ACS patients. Of 37,336 smokers with ACS, only 35.3% received smoking cessation interventions before discharge. There was wide variation in provision of smoking cessation interventions across hospitals (0%-100%). Conclusions: Smoking is highly prevalent among ACS patients in China. However, smoking cessation interventions are not widely adopted in clinical practice in China as part of formal treatment strategies for ACS patients, indicating an important target for quality improvement. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

The American Heart Association's Call to Action for Reducing the Global Burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects ≈40 million people and claims nearly 300 000 lives each year. The historic passing of a World Health Assembly resolution on RHD in 2018 now mandates a coordinated global response. The American Heart Association is committed to serving as a global champion and leader in RHD care and prevention. Here, we pledge support in 5 key areas: (1) professional healthcare worker education and training, (2) technical support for the implementation of evidence-based strategies for rheumatic fever/RHD prevention, (3) access to essential medications and technologies, (4) research, and (5) advocacy to increase global awareness, resources, and capacity for RHD control. In bolstering the efforts of the American Heart Association to combat RHD, we hope to inspire others to collaborate, communicate, and contribute.

Harnessing inter-disciplinary collaboration to improve emergency care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): results of research prioritisation setting exercise.

BACKGROUND: More than half of deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) result from conditions that could be treated with emergency care - an integral component of universal health coverage (UHC) - through timely access to lifesaving interventions. METHODS: The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to extend UHC to a further 1 billion people by 2023, yet evidence supporting improved emergency care coverage is lacking. In this article, we explore four phases of a research prioritisation setting (RPS) exercise conducted by researchers and stakeholders from South Africa, Egypt, Nepal, Jamaica, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea and Phillipines, USA and UK as a key step in gathering evidence required by policy makers and practitioners for the strengthening of emergency care systems in limited-resource settings. RESULTS: The RPS proposed seven priority research questions addressing: identification of context-relevant emergency care indicators, barriers to effective emergency care; accuracy and impact of triage tools; potential quality improvement via registries; characteristics of people seeking emergency care; best practices for staff training and retention; and cost effectiveness of critical care - all within LMICs. CONCLUSIONS: Convened by WHO and facilitated by the University of Sheffield, the Global Emergency Care Research Network project (GEM-CARN) brought together a coalition of 16 countries to identify research priorities for strengthening emergency care in LMICs. Our article further assesses the quality of the RPS exercise and reviews the current evidence supporting the identified priorities.

Implementação do Programa Boas Práticas em Cardiologia adaptado do Get With The Guidelines ® em Hospitais Brasileiros: Desenho do Estudo e Fundamento / Implementation of a Best Practice in Cardiology (BPC) Program Adapted from Get With The Guidelines®in Brazilian Public Hospitals: Study Design and Rationale

Resumo Fundamento Existem grandes oportunidades de melhoria da qualidade do cuidado cardiovascular em países em desenvolvimento por meio da implementação de um programa de qualidade. Objetivo Avaliar o efeito de um programa de Boas Práticas em Cardiologia (BPC) nos indicadores de desempenho e desfechos clínicos dos pacientes relacionados à insuficiência cardíaca, fibrilação atrial e síndromes coronarianas agudas em um subconjunto de hospitais públicos brasileiros. Métodos O programa Boas Práticas em Cardiologia (BPC) foi adaptado do programa Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) da American Heart Association (AHA) para ser utilizado no Brasil. O programa está sendo iniciado em três domínios de cuidado simultaneamente (síndrome coronariana aguda, fibrilação atrial e insuficiência cardíaca), o que consiste em uma abordagem nunca testada no GWTG. Existem seis eixos de intervenções utilizadas pela literatura sobre tradução do conhecimento que abordará barreiras locais identificadas por meio de entrevistas estruturadas e reuniões regulares para auditoria e feedback. Planeja-se incluir no mínimo 10 hospitais e 1500 pacientes por doença cardíaca. O desfecho primário inclui as taxas de adesão às medidas de cuidado recomendadas pelas diretrizes. Desfechos secundários incluem o efeito do programa sobre o tempo de internação, mortalidade global e específica, taxas de readmissão, qualidade de vida, percepção do paciente sobre saúde e adesão dos pacientes às intervenções prescritas. Resultados Espera-se, nos hospitais participantes, uma melhoria e a manutenção das taxas de adesão as recomendações baseadas em evidência e dos desfechos dos pacientes. Este é o primeiro programa em melhoria da qualidade a ser realizado na América do Sul, que fornecerá informações importantes de como programas de sucesso originados em países desenvolvidos como os Estados Unidos podem ser adaptados às necessidades de países com economias em desenvolvimento como o Brasil. Um programa bem sucedido dará informações valiosas para o desenvolvimento de programas de melhoria da qualidade em outros países em desenvolvimento. Conclusões Este estudo de mundo real proverá informações para a avaliação e aumento da adesão às diretrizes de cardiologia no Brasil, bem como a melhora dos processos assistenciais. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(1):92-99)

Abstract Background There are substantial opportunities to improve the quality of cardiovascular care in developing countries through the implementation of a quality program. Objective To evaluate the effect of a Best Practice in Cardiology (BPC) program on performance measures and patient outcomes related to heart failure, atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes in a subset of Brazilian public hospitals. Methods The Boas Práticas em Cardiologia (BPC) program was adapted from the American Heart Association's (AHA) Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) Program for use in Brazil. The program is being started simultaneously in three care domains (acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation and heart failure), which is an approach that has never been tested within the GWTG. There are six axes of interventions borrowed from knowledge translation literature that will address local barriers identified through structured interviews and regular audit and feedback meetings. The intervention is planned to include at least 10 hospitals and 1,500 patients per heart condition. The primary endpoint includes the rates of overall adherence to care measures recommended by the guidelines. Secondary endpoints include the effect of the program on length of stay, overall and specific mortality, readmission rates, quality of life, patients' health perception and patients' adherence to prescribed interventions. Results It is expected that participating hospitals will improve and sustain their overall adherence rates to evidence-based recommendations and patient outcomes. This is the first such cardiovascular quality improvement (QI) program in South America and will provide important information on how successful programs from developed countries like the United States can be adapted to meet the needs of countries with developing economies like Brazil. Also, a successful program will give valuable information for the development of QI programs in other developing countries. Conclusions This real-world study provides information for assessing and increasing adherence to cardiology guidelines in Brazil, as well as improvements in care processes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Implementation of a Best Practice in Cardiology (BPC) Program Adapted from Get With The Guidelines®in Brazilian Public Hospitals: Study Design and Rationale. / Implementação do Programa Boas Práticas em Cardiologia adaptado do Get With The Guidelines ® em Hospitais Brasileiros: Desenho do Estudo e Fundamento.

Background There are substantial opportunities to improve the quality of cardiovascular care in developing countries through the implementation of a quality program. Objective To evaluate the effect of a Best Practice in Cardiology (BPC) program on performance measures and patient outcomes related to heart failure, atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes in a subset of Brazilian public hospitals. Methods The Boas Práticas em Cardiologia (BPC) program was adapted from the American Heart Association's (AHA) Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) Program for use in Brazil. The program is being started simultaneously in three care domains (acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation and heart failure), which is an approach that has never been tested within the GWTG. There are six axes of interventions borrowed from knowledge translation literature that will address local barriers identified through structured interviews and regular audit and feedback meetings. The intervention is planned to include at least 10 hospitals and 1,500 patients per heart condition. The primary endpoint includes the rates of overall adherence to care measures recommended by the guidelines. Secondary endpoints include the effect of the program on length of stay, overall and specific mortality, readmission rates, quality of life, patients' health perception and patients' adherence to prescribed interventions. Results It is expected that participating hospitals will improve and sustain their overall adherence rates to evidence-based recommendations and patient outcomes. This is the first such cardiovascular quality improvement (QI) program in South America and will provide important information on how successful programs from developed countries like the United States can be adapted to meet the needs of countries with developing economies like Brazil. Also, a successful program will give valuable information for the development of QI programs in other developing countries. Conclusions This real-world study provides information for assessing and increasing adherence to cardiology guidelines in Brazil, as well as improvements in care processes. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Chest Pain Center Accreditation Is Associated With Improved In-Hospital Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients in China: Findings From the CCC-ACS Project.

Background Chest pain center (CPC) accreditation plays an important role in the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, no evidence shows whether the outcomes of AMI patients are improved with CPC accreditation in China. Methods and Results This retrospective analysis is based on a predesigned nationwide registry, CCC-ACS (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome). The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, reinfarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, and heart failure. A total of 15 344 AMI patients, from 40 CPC-accredited hospitals, were enrolled, including 7544 admitted before and 7800 after accreditation. In propensity score matching, 6700 patients in each group were matched. The incidence of 7-day MACE (6.7% versus 8.0%; P=0.003) and all-cause death (1.1% versus 1.6%; P=0.021) was lower after accreditation. In multivariate adjusted mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models, CPC accreditation was associated with significantly decreased risk of MACE (hazard ratio: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.91) and all-cause death (hazard ratio: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.99). The risk of MACE and all-cause death both followed a reverse J-shaped trend: the risk of MACE and all-cause death decreased gradually after achieving CPC accreditation, with minimal risk occurring in the first year, but increased in the second year and after. Conclusions Based on a large-scale national registry data set, CPC accreditation was associated with better in-hospital outcomes for AMI patients. However, the benefits seemed to attenuate over time, and reaccreditation may be essential for maintaining AMI care quality and outcomes.

Performance on management strategies with Class I Recommendation and A Level of Evidence among hospitalized patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome in China: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine hospital performance on evidence-based management strategies for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and variations across hospitals. METHODS: Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC)-ACS project is an ongoing registry and quality improvement project, with 150 tertiary hospitals recruited across China. We examined hospital performance on nine management strategies (Class I Recommendations with A Level of Evidence) based on established guidelines. We also evaluated the proportion of patients receiving defect-free care, which was defined as the care that included all the required management strategies for which the patient was eligible. The hospital-level variations in the performance were examined. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2018, 28,170 NSTE-ACS patients were included. Overall, 16% of patients received defect-free care. Higher-performing metrics were statin at discharge (93%), cardiac troponin measurement (92%), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) within 24 hours (90%), and DAPT at discharge (85%). These were followed by metrics of ß-blocker at discharge (69%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) at discharge (59%), and risk stratification (56%). Lower-performing metrics were smoking cessation counseling (35%) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within recommended times (33%). The proportion of patients receiving defect-free care substantially varied across hospitals, ranging from 0% to 58% (Median (interquartile range):12% (7%-21%)). There were large variations across hospitals in performance on risk stratification, smoking cessation counseling, PCI within recommended times, ACEI/ARB at discharge and ß-blocker at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: About one in six NSTE-ACS patients received defect-free care, and the performance varied across hospitals.

Prehospital statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at admission in acute coronary syndrome patients with history of myocardial infarction or revascularization: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project.

BACKGROUND: Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by statins is a key strategy for secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few studies have examined prehospital statin use and admission LDL-C levels in ACS patients with history of myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularization. This study aimed to assess use of prehospital statins and LDL-C levels at admission in ACS patients with history of MI or revascularization. METHODS: Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China project was a nationwide registry, with 192 participating hospitals reporting details of clinical information of ACS patients from November 2014. By May 2018, 80,282 patients with ACS were included. LDL-C levels were obtained from the initial admission lipid testing. RESULTS: Of the 80,282 ACS patients, 6,523 with a history of MI or revascularization were enrolled. Among them, 50.8% were receiving lipid-lowering therapy before hospitalization (statin monotherapy in 98.4%, combination in 1.2%). A total of 30.1% of patients had LDL-C < 70 mg/dL at admission. In patients receiving prehospital statins, 36.1% had LDL-C < 70 mg/dL compared to 24.0% without prehospital statins (P < .001). At discharge, 91.8% of patients were treated with statin monotherapy, 90.7% at moderate doses irrespective of prehospital statin use and LDL-C levels at admission. CONCLUSIONS: Among ACS patients with history of MI or revascularization, half were not being treated with statin therapy prior to admission, and most had not attained LDL-C < 70 mg/dL despite prehospital statin use. There is an important opportunity to provide intensive statin or combination lipid-lowering therapy to these very high risk patients.

Sex Differences in In-Hospital Management and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of mortality among women. Systematic evaluation of the quality of care and outcomes in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), an acute manifestation of coronary heart disease, remains lacking in China. METHODS: The CCC-ACS project (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) is an ongoing nationwide registry of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. Using data from the CCC-ACS project, we evaluated sex differences in acute management, medical therapies for secondary prevention, and in-hospital mortality in 82 196 patients admitted for ACS at 192 hospitals in China from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: Women with ACS were older than men (69.0 versus 61.1 years, P<0.001) and had more comorbidities. After multivariable adjustment, eligible women were less likely to receive evidence-based acute treatments for ACS than men, including early dual antiplatelet therapy, heparins during hospitalization, and reperfusion therapy for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. With respect to strategies for secondary prevention, eligible women were less likely to receive dual antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins at discharge, and smoking cessation and cardiac rehabilitation counseling during hospitalization. In-hospital mortality rate was higher in women than in men (2.60% versus 1.50%, P<0.001). The sex difference in in-hospital mortality was no longer observed in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.41; P=0.057) and non-ST-segment elevation ACS (adjusted odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.06; P=0.147) after adjustment for clinical characteristics and acute treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Women hospitalized for ACS in China received acute treatments and strategies for secondary prevention less frequently than men. The observed sex differences in in-hospital mortality were mainly attributable to worse clinical profiles and fewer evidence-based acute treatments provided to women with ACS. Specially targeted quality improvement programs may be warranted to narrow sex-related disparities in quality of care and outcomes in patients with ACS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Prevalence and in-hospital outcomes of diabetes among patients with acute coronary syndrome in China: findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome Project.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines have classified patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and diabetes as a special population, with specific sections presented for the management of these patients considering their extremely high risk. However, in China up-to-date information is lacking regarding the burden of diabetes in patients with ACS and the potential impact of diabetes status on the in-hospital outcomes of these patients. This study aims to provide updated estimation for the burden of diabetes in patients with ACS in China and to evaluate whether diabetes is still associated with excess risks of early mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) for ACS patients. METHODS: The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-ACS Project was a collaborative study of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. A total of 63,450 inpatients with a definitive diagnosis of ACS were included. Prevalence of diabetes was evaluated in the overall study population and subgroups. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the association between diabetes and in-hospital outcomes, and a propensity-score-matched analysis was further conducted. RESULTS: Among these ACS patients, 23,880 (37.6%) had diabetes/possible diabetes. Both STEMI and NSTE-ACS patients had a high prevalence of diabetes/possible diabetes (36.8% versus 39.0%). The prevalence of diabetes/possible diabetes was higher in women (45.0% versus 35.2%, p < 0.001). Even in patients younger than 45 years, 26.9% had diabetes/possible diabetes. While receiving comparable treatments for ACS, diabetes/possible diabetes was associated with a twofold higher risk of all-cause death (adjusted odds ratio 2.04 [95% confidence interval 1.78-2.33]) and a 1.5-fold higher risk of MACCE (adjusted odds ratio 1.54 [95% confidence interval 1.39-1.72]). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes was highly prevalent in patients with ACS in China. Considerable excess risks for early mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events were found in these patients. Trial registration NCT02306616. Registered December 3, 2014.

Rationale and design of the improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China (CCC) project: a national registry to improve management of atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Inadequate management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has been reported in China for anticoagulation therapy and treatment for concomitant diseases. An effective quality improvement programme has been lacking to promote the use of evidence-based treatments and improve outcome in patients with AF. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF programme is a collaboration of the American Heart Association and the Chinese Society of Cardiology. This programme is designed to promote adherence to AF guideline recommendations and outcomes for inpatients with AF. Launched in February 2015, 150 hospitals are recruited by geographic-economic regions across 30 provinces in China. Each month, 10-20 inpatients with AF are enrolled in each hospital. A web-based data collection platform is used to collect clinical information for patients with AF, including patients' demographics, admission information, medical history, in-hospital care and outcomes, and discharge medications for managing AF. The quality improvement initiative includes monthly benchmarked reports on hospital quality, training sessions, regular webinars and recognitions of hospital quality achievement. Primary analyses will include adherence to performance measures and guidelines. To address intrahospital correlation, generalised estimating equation models will be applied. As of March 2017, 28 801 AF inpatients have been enrolled. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. Results will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02309398.

In-Hospital Outcomes of Dual Loading Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients 75 Years and Older With Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Findings From the CCC-ACS (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) Project.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk for ischemic and bleeding events. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of dual loading antiplatelet therapy for patients 75 years and older undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-ACS project was a collaborative study of the American Heart Association and Chinese Society of Cardiology. A total of 5887 patients 75 years and older with ACS who had percutaneous coronary intervention and received dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors (clopidogrel or ticagrelor) between November 2014 and June 2017 were enrolled. The primary effectiveness and safety outcomes were in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events and major bleeding. Hazard ratios (HRs) of in-hospital outcomes with different loading statuses of antiplatelet therapy were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models with multivariate adjustment. A propensity score-matched analysis was also conducted. Compared with patients receiving a dual nonloading dose, patients taking a dual loading dose had increased risks of both major adverse cardiovascular events (HR, 1.66, 95% confidence interval, 1.13-2.44; [P=0.010]) and major bleeding (HR, 2.34, 95% confidence interval, 1.75-3.13; [P<0.001]). Among 3284 propensity score-matched patients, a dual loading dose was associated with a 1.36-fold risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (HR, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-2.11 [P=0.168]) and a 2.08-fold risk of major bleeding (HR, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-2.93 [P<0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: A dual loading dose of antiplatelet therapy was associated with increased major bleeding risk but not with decreased major adverse cardiovascular events risk among patients 75 years and older undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS in China. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Cardiovascular disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region: epidemiology and risk factor burden.

The Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) comprises 22 countries or territories spanning from Morocco in the west to Pakistan in the east, and contains a population of almost 600 million people. Like many other developing regions, the burden of disease in the EMR has shifted in the past 30 years from primarily communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular mortality in the EMR, mostly attributable to ischaemic heart disease, is expected to increase more dramatically in the next decade than in any other region except Africa. The most prominent CVD risk factors in this region include tobacco consumption, physical inactivity, depression, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Many individuals living in the EMR are unaware of their risk factor status, and even if treated, these risk factors are often poorly controlled. Furthermore, infrequent use of emergency medical services, delays in access to care, and lack of access to cardiac catheterization affects the timely diagnosis of CVD. Treatment of CVD is also suboptimal in this region, consisting primarily of thrombolysis, with insufficient provision of timely revascularization. In this Review, we summarize what is known about CVD burden, risk factors, and treatment strategies for individuals living in the EMR. This information will hopefully aid decision-makers when devising strategies on how to improve CVD prevention and management in this region.

Invasive Management Strategies and Antithrombotic Treatments in Patients With Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome in China: Findings From the Improving CCC Project (Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China).

BACKGROUND: Early invasive strategies and antithrombotic treatments are key treatments of non-ST-segment-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). Few studies have examined the use of these strategies in patients with NSTE-ACS in China. This study aimed to assess the applications of invasive strategies and antithrombotic treatments in patients with NSTE-ACS and compare their outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A nationwide registry study, Improving CCC (Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China) ACS project, was launched in 2014 as a collaborative study of the American Heart Association and Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC), with 142 participating hospitals reporting details of clinical management and outcomes of patients with NSTE-ACS. The use of invasive strategies and antithrombotic treatments was examined based on updated guidelines. Major adverse cardiovascular events were analyzed. A total of 9953 patients with NSTE-ACS were enrolled. Angiography was performed in 63.1% of these patients, and 58.2% underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, 40.6% of patients did not undergo early risk assessment, and very-high-risk patients had the lowest proportion of PCI (41.7%). PCI was performed within recommended times in 11.1% of very-high-risk patients and 26.3% of high risk patients. Those who underwent PCI within 2 hours had higher mortality in high-risk and very-high-risk patients who received PCI. Early dual antiplatelet treatment was given in 88.3% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: There are notable differences between guideline recommendations and the clinical management of patients with NSTE-ACS in China. The reasons for very-high-risk NSTE-ACS patients not undergoing PCI, and the optimal timing of PCI, require further clarification. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02306616.

Is endocarditis prophylaxis for dental procedures necessary?

OBJECTIVES: Our purpose is to address whether antimicrobial prophylaxis is necessary before certain dental procedures for patients at increased risk for acquiring infective endocarditis (IE). METHODS: We reviewed recommendations for IE prophylaxis made by the American Heart Association (AHA) from 1995 to the present time. We also compared and contrasted the current recommendations from the AHA, European Society of Cardiology (ESC), United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and a consortium of French organisations. We further reviewed recent papers that have observed the incidence of IE since these current recommendations were published. RESULTS: Beginning in the 1990s, questions were raised about the advisability of using antimicrobial prophylaxis before certain dental procedures to prevent IE. Various groups in Europe and the US were increasingly aware that there were not any clinical trials showing the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of such prophylaxis. In the early to mid-2000s, the AHA, ESC and French consortium published guidelines recommending restriction of prophylaxis before dental procedures to patients with highest risk for developing IE and/or the highest risk for an adverse outcome from IE. The NICE guidelines eliminated recommendations for prophylaxis before dental procedures. Studies published after these changes were instituted have generally shown that the incidence of IE has not changed, although two recent reports have observed some increased incidence (but not necessarily related to an antecedent dental procedure). CONCLUSION: A multi-national randomised controlled clinical trial that would include individuals from both developed and developing countries around the world is needed to ultimately define whether there is a role for antibiotic prophylaxis administered before certain dental procedures to prevent IE.