Preoperative Assessment and Management of Cardiovascular Risk in Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery: Implementing a Systematic Stepwise Approach during the COVID-19 Pandemic Era.

Major adverse cardiac events, defined as death or myocardial infarction, are common causes of perioperative mortality and major morbidity in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Reduction of perioperative cardiovascular risk in relation to non-cardiac surgery requires a stepwise patient evaluation that integrates clinical risk factors, functional status and the estimated stress of the planned surgical procedure. Major guidelines on preoperative cardiovascular risk assessment recommend to establish, firstly, the risk of surgery per se (low, moderate, high) and the related timing (elective vs. urgent/emergent), evaluate the presence of unstable cardiac conditions or a recent coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting), assess the functional capacity of the patient (usually expressed in metabolic equivalents), determine the value of non-invasive and/or invasive cardiovascular testing and then combine these data in estimating perioperative risk for major cardiac adverse events using validated scores (Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) or National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP)). This stepwise approach has the potential to guide clinicians in determining which patients could benefit from cardiovascular therapy and/or coronary artery revascularization before non-cardiac surgery towards decreasing the incidence of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Finally, it should be highlighted that there is a need to implement specific strategies in the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection during the preoperative risk assessment process.

Association of Operator and Hospital Experience With Procedural Success Rates and Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Chronic Total Occlusions: Insights From the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium.

BACKGROUND: An inverse relationship has been described between procedural success and outcomes of all major cardiovascular procedures. However, this relationship has not been studied for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO). METHODS: We analyzed the data on patients enrolled in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium registry in Michigan (January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2018) to evaluate the association of operator and hospital experience with procedural success and outcomes of patients undergoing CTO-PCI. CTO-PCI was defined as intervention of a 100% occluded coronary artery presumed to be ≥3 months old. RESULTS: Among 210 172 patients enrolled in the registry, 7389 (3.5%) CTO-PCIs were attempted with a success rate of 53%. CTO-PCI success increased with operator experience (45% and 65% in the lowest and highest experience tertiles) and was the highest for highly experienced operators at higher experience centers and the lowest for inexperienced operators at low experience hospitals. Multivariable logistic regression models (with spline transformed prior operator and institutional experience) demonstrated a positive relationship between prior operator and site experience and procedural success rates (likelihood ratio test=141.12, df=15, P<0.001) but no relationship between operator and site experience and major adverse cardiac event (likelihood ratio test=19.12, df=15, P=0.208). CONCLUSIONS: Operator and hospital CTO-PCI experiences were directly related to procedural success but were not related to major adverse cardiac event among patients undergoing CTO-PCIs. Inexperienced operators at high experience centers had significantly higher success but not major adverse cardiac event rates compared with inexperienced operators at low experience centers. These data suggested that CTO-PCI safety and success could potentially be improved by selective referral of these procedures to experienced operators working at highly experienced centers.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Chronic Total Occlusion-The Michigan Experience: Insights From the BMC2 Registry.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the performance and outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Michigan. BACKGROUND: CTO PCI has been associated with reduction in angina, but previous registry analyses showed a higher rate of major adverse cardiac events with this procedure. METHODS: To study uptake and outcomes of CTO PCI in Michigan, patients enrolled in the BMC2 (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium) registry (2010 to 2017) were evaluated. CTO PCI was defined as intervention in a 100% occluded coronary artery ≥3 months old. RESULTS: Among 210,172 patients enrolled in the registry, 7,389 CTO PCIs (3.5%) were attempted, with 4,614 (58.3%) achieving post-procedural TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow grade 3. The proportion of PCIs performed on CTOs increased over the study period (from 2.67% in 2010 to 4.48% in 2017). Thirty of 47 hospitals performed >50 CTO interventions in 2017. Pre-procedural angina class ≤2 was present in one-quarter, and functional assessment for ischemia was performed in 46.6% of patients. Major complications occurred in 245 patients (3.3%) and included death (1.4%), post-procedural stroke (0.4%), cardiac tamponade (0.5%), and urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (1.3%). Procedural success improved modestly from 44.5% in 2010 to 54.9% in 2017 (p for trend < 0.001). Rates of in-hospital mortality (p for trend = 0.247) and major adverse cardiac event (p for trend = 0.859) for CTO PCI remained unchanged over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of CTO PCI in Michigan increased over the study period. Although the success rate of CTO PCI has increased modestly in contemporary practice, it remained far below the >80% reported by select high-volume CTO operators. The rate of periprocedural major adverse cardiac events or death remained unchanged over time. These data suggest room for improvement in the selection and functional assessment of CTO lesions before subjecting patients to the increased procedural risk associated with CTO PCI.

Levosimendan in patients with reduced left ventricular function undergoing isolated coronary or valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: In the Levosimendan in Patients with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction Undergoing Cardiac Surgery Requiring Cardiopulmonary Bypass (LEVO-CTS) trial, no differences in clinical outcomes were observed between levosimendan and placebo in a broad population of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In previous studies, the benefits of levosimendan were most clearly evident in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. In a prespecified analysis of LEVO-CTS, we compared treatment-related outcomes and costs across types of cardiac surgical procedures. METHODS: Overall, 563 (66.4%) patients underwent isolated CABG, 97 (11.4%) isolated valve, and 188 (22.2%) combined CABG/valve surgery. Outcomes included the co-primary 4-component composite (30-day mortality, 30-day renal replacement, 5-day myocardial infarction, or 5-day mechanical circulatory support), the 2-component composite (30-day mortality or 5-day mechanical circulatory support), 90-day mortality, low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), and 30-day medical costs. RESULTS: The 4- and 2-component outcomes were not significantly different with levosimendan and placebo in patients undergoing CABG (15.2% vs 19.3% and 7.8% vs 10.4%), valve (49.0% vs 33.3% and 22.4% vs 2.1%), or combined procedures (39.6% vs 35.9% and 24.0% vs 19.6%). Ninety-day mortality was lower with levosimendan in isolated CABG (2.1% vs 7.9%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.64), but not significantly different in valve (8.3% vs 2.0%; HR, 4.10; 95% CI, 0.46-36.72) or combined procedures (10.4% vs 7.6%; HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.53-3.64; interaction P = .011). LCOS (12.0% vs 22.1%; odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30-0.76; interaction P = .118) was significantly lower in levosimendan-treated patients undergoing isolated CABG. Excluding study drug costs, median and mean 30-day costs were $53,707 and $65,852 for levosimendan and $54,636 and $67,122 for placebo, with a 30-day mean difference (levosimendan - placebo) of -$1270 (bootstrap 95% CI, -$8722 to $6165). CONCLUSIONS: Levosimendan was associated with lower 90-day mortality and LCOS in patients undergoing isolated CABG, but not in those undergoing isolated valve or combined CABG/valve procedures.

Association of Anemia With Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Peripheral Vascular Intervention: Insights From the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2 VIC).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of patients with anemia undergoing percutaneous peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) in a contemporary registry. METHODS: We evaluated the differences in the clinical features and outcomes of patients with and without anemia undergoing PVI in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2 VIC) registry. Anemia was defined using World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: Baseline anemia was present in 42.3% of 15,683 patients undergoing PVI. Compared to patients without anemia, those with anemia were older (mean age, 67 years vs 71 years), were more often black (16% vs 29%), and had higher comorbidities. Anemic patients were twice as likely to present with acute limb ischemia (5% vs 11%) and undergo urgent PVI (6% vs 15%) or below-the-knee PVI (18% vs 35%). Many in-hospital adverse events were higher in anemic patients. In a propensity-matched cohort, any adverse outcome (3.4% vs 8.4%; odds ratio [OR], 2.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.94-3.42) or major cardiovascular event, defined as death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or amputation (1.1% vs 3.2%; OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.83-4.79) was more likely in anemic patients. Of all adverse events, the highest odds were observed for post-PVI transfusions and amputations in anemic patients. Multivariable logistic regression showed that baseline hemoglobin (1 g/dL below the normal value) was associated with greater risk of any adverse event (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.47-1.68). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anemia was high among PVI patients and was associated with significantly greater likelihood of amputation, any adverse event, and major cardiovascular events. Whether preprocedure correction of anemia has the potential to decrease post-PVI adverse events remains to be studied.

The association of race with quality of health in peripheral artery disease following peripheral vascular intervention: The Q-PAD Study.

Black patients have a higher prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) than white patients, and also tend to have a greater extent and severity of disease, and poorer outcomes. The association of race with quality of health (QOH) after peripheral vascular intervention (PVI), however, is less well-known. In our study, we hypothesized that after PVI, black patients experience worse QOH than white patients. We retrospectively assessed racial differences in health status using responses to the Peripheral Arterial Questionnaire (PAQ) at baseline (pre-PVI) and up to 6 months following PVI among 387 patients. We used the PAQ summary score (which includes physical limitation, symptoms, social function and quality of life) as a measure of QOH. We compared QOH scores at baseline and at follow-up after PVI between black ( n=132, 34.1%) and white ( n=255, 65.9%) patients. We then computed the change in score from baseline to follow-up for each patient (the delta) and compared the median delta between the two groups. Multivariable regression was used to model the delta QOH after controlling for factors associated with race or with the delta QOH. There was no significant difference in mean QOH by race either at baseline ( p=0.09) or at follow-up ( p=0.45). There was no significant difference in the unadjusted median delta by race (white 25.3 vs black 21.5, p=0.28) and QOH scores improved significantly at follow-up in both groups, albeit the improvement was marginally lower in black compared with white patients after adjustment for baseline confounders ( b = -6.6, p=0.05, 95% CI -13.2, -0.11).

Is mortality a useful parameter for public reporting in pacemaker implantation? Results of an obligatory external quality control programme.

AIMS: To evaluate if public reporting of pacemaker implantation-associated mortality is meaningful in a large contemporary patient cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: The database of the obligatory external quality control programme in the Federal State of Hessen, Germany, of patients undergoing permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation was evaluated retrospectively. We compared the baseline features of patients who died compared with those who did not during hospitalization after PPM. Of 5079 patients who underwent PPM implantation in 2009, 74 (1.5%) died during the hospital stay. Cause of death was available in 70/74 patients (94.6%) who died. Deceased patients were older (79.6 ± 8.7 vs. 76.3 ± 9.9 years, P = 0.006), had worse American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status (P < 0.001), lower ejection fraction (P < 0.001), a greater prevalence of high-degree atrioventricular-block (44.3 vs. 35.0%, P = 0.001), and were more likely to receive single-chamber devices (41.4 vs. 25.0%, P < 0.002). Perioperative complications were similar in both cohorts. Death was not attributable directly to PPM procedure in any patients but was related to (i) non-device-related infections (28.6%), (ii) heart failure (25.7%), (iii) extracardiac diseases (21.4%), (iv) multiorgan failure (8.6%), (v) previous resuscitation with hypoxic brain damage (8.6%), and (vi) arrhythmogenic death (7.1%). CONCLUSION: Mortality associated with PPM implantation in vast majority of cases was not related to the procedure, but to comorbidities and other existing diseases at the time of PPM implantation. Thus, PPM implantation in-hospital mortality should not be chosen for public reporting comparing hospital quality, even after adjusting for baseline risk.

Association Of Bleeding Avoidance Strategies with age-related bleeding and In-hospital mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary Interventions.

BACKGROUND: The association of bleeding avoidance strategy (BAS) (consisting of a combination of radial access, bivalirudin [rather than heparin +/- glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa antagonists], and/or vascular closure devices after femoral access) with bleeding and in-hospital outcomes has not been evaluated among elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). METHODS: We studied BAS use, bleeding and in-hospital mortality among 121,635 patients categorized by age (<50, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80years) undergoing PCI from the BMC2 registry (1/2010-12/2013). RESULTS: The use of BAS decreased marginally with age and despite improved utilization over time, remained lower among the elderly. BAS was used in a much lower risk cohort among all age groups. Nonetheless, compared with no BAS, the use of this strategy was associated with lower bleeding (adjusted OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.980-0.985) and in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 0.996, 95% CI 0.994-0.997) among all age-groups. Similar relative reduction in the risk of bleeding was observed among all age groups with BAS use with lowest risk (thus greatest absolute risk reduction given their highest risk for bleeding) for the oldest cohort. CONCLUSIONS: BAS use decreased with age among patients undergoing PCI despite its association with lower in-hospital mortality. Although overall utilization improved over time, it still remained lower in the elderly cohort, a group likely to benefit most from it. These data identified an opportunity to design strategies to improve BAS use particularly among high-risk elderly patients undergoing PCI so as to decrease bleeding and reduce related adverse events and costs.

Association of Hospital and Physician Characteristics and Care Processes With Racial Disparities in Procedural Outcomes Among Contemporary Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that black patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery had worse outcomes than white patients, even after accounting for patient factors. The degree to which clinician, hospital, and care factors account for these outcome differences remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated procedural outcomes in 11,697 blacks and 136,362 whites undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery at 663 Society of Thoracic Surgery Database participating sites (January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011) adjusted for patients' clinical and socioeconomic features, hospital and surgeon effects, and care processes (internal mammary artery graft and perioperative medications use). Relative to whites, blacks undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were younger, yet had higher comorbidities and more adverse presenting features. Blacks were also more likely to be treated at hospitals with higher risk-adjusted mortality. The use of internal mammary artery was marginally lower in blacks than in whites (93.3% versus 92.2%, P<0.0001). Unadjusted mortality and major morbidity rates were higher in blacks than in whites (1.8% versus 2.5%, P<0.0001) and (13.6% versus 19.4%, P<0.0001), respectively. These racial differences in outcomes narrowed but still persisted after adjusting for surgeon, hospital, and care processes in addition to patient and socioeconomic factors (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.36 and odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.34, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The risks of procedural mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass surgery were higher among black patients than among white patients. These differences were in part accounted for by patient comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and surgeon, hospital, and care factors, as well, as suggested by the reduction in the strength of the race-outcomes association. However, black race remained an independent predictor of outcomes even after accounting for these differences.

Association between hospital procedure volume and early complications after pacemaker implantation: results from a large, unselected, contemporary cohort of the German nationwide obligatory external quality assurance programme.

AIMS: Several studies demonstrated an inverse relationship between cardioverter-defibrillator implantation volume and complication rates, suggesting better outcomes for higher volume centres. However, the association of institutional procedural volume with patient outcomes for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation remains less known, especially in decentralized implantation systems. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed retrospective examination of data on patients undergoing PPM from the German obligatory quality assurance programme (2007-12) to evaluate the relationship of hospital PPM volume (categorized into quintiles of their mean annual volume) with risk-adjusted in-hospital surgical complications (composite of pneumothorax, haemothorax, pericardial effusion, or pocket haematoma, all requiring intervention, or device infection) and pacemaker lead dislocation. Overall 430 416 PPM implantations were documented in 1226 hospitals. Systems included dual (72.8%) and single (25.8%) chamber PPM and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices (1.1%). Complications included surgical (0.92%), and ventricular (0.99%), and atrial (1.22%) lead dislocation. Despite an increase in relatively complex procedures (dual chamber, CRT), there was a significant decrease in the procedural and fluoroscopy times and complications from lowest to highest implantation volume quintiles (P for trend <0.0001). The greatest difference was observed between the lowest (1-50 implantations/year-reference group) and the second-lowest (51-90 implantations/year) quintile: surgical complications [odds ratio (OR) 0.69; confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.78], atrial lead dislocations (OR 0.69; CI 0.59-0.80), and ventricular lead dislocations (OR 0.73; CI 0.63-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital annual PPM volume was directly related to indication-based implantation of relatively more complex PPM and yet inversely with procedural times and rates of early surgical complications and lead dislocations. Thus, our data suggest better performance and lower complications with increasing procedural volume.

Differences in sex-related bleeding and outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention: insights from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) registry.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is more common in women than in men. However, the relationship of sex and bleeding with outcomes is less well studied. METHODS: We examined the sex-related differences in the incidence of bleeding and its association with in-hospital outcomes among 96,637 patients undergoing PCI enrolled in the BMC2 registry (2010-2012). RESULTS: Women had higher bleeding rate than did men (3.9% vs 1.8%) and thus received more blood transfusions (59% vs 41%). Both men (odds ratio [OR] 2.25, 95% CI 1.70-2.97) and women (OR 3.13, 95% CI 2.42-4.07) who bled had higher risk-adjusted death compared with their counterparts without bleeding. Although there was no difference in adjusted mortality between women and men without bleeding (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99-1.32), among patients who bled, adjusted death was higher in women (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11-1.47). Among patients with bleeding, transfusion was associated with similar increased risk of death in both men (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.23-3.25) and women (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.31-3.63) compared with their counterparts without transfusion(s). CONCLUSIONS: Post-PCI bleeding was more common and associated with higher-than-expected in-hospital death in women compared with men with bleeding. This trend for higher death in women with bleeding was independent of transfusion. Quality efforts geared toward reducing bleeding in general, with a special focus on women, need to be explored to help reduce post PCI-bleeding and mortality and decrease sex-related disparity in adverse events.

Variations in practice and outcomes in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the United States and Canada: insights from the Assessment of Pexelizumab in Acute Myocardial Infarction (APEX AMI) trial.

BACKGROUND: Information on practice patterns and outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) in Canada vs United States is limited. METHODS: We evaluated differences in clinical and angiographic features, practice patterns, and outcomes between Canada and United States in 2,086 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI in the APEX AMI trial. RESULTS: Of 2,086 patients, 335 (19%) were enrolled in Canada. Compared with US patients, Canadians were older with lower body mass index and creatinine clearance and less likely to have history of hypertension, smoking, or prior revascularization. Baseline infarct artery patency was higher, and the use of intra-aortic balloon pump and drug-eluting stents was lower in Canadian patients. Median door-to-PCI time was significantly shorter among Canadian patients (0.9 hours [interquartile range 0.6-1.3] vs 1.2 hours [interquartile range 0.8-1.7]). Clinical outcomes at 90 days were lower among Canadian patients, including shock (2.7% vs 4.2%), heart failure (3.6% vs 5.6%), bleeding (3.6% vs 9.6%), and atrial (3.6% vs 7.4%) and ventricular (3.0% vs 6.4%) arrhythmias. However, 90-day mortality (2.7% vs 4.8%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.62, 95% CI 0.47-1.28) and composite of death, shock, or heart failure (6.8% vs 11.5%, adjusted hazard ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.47-1.27) were similar in the 2 cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with US patients, Canadian patients had shorter door-to-PCI time but similar 90-day outcomes. These data suggest an opportunity for US sites to examine and learn from the Canadian systems of processes of care and implement changes so as to improve the timeliness of primary PCI.

A model for predicting mortality in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results from the Assessment of Pexelizumab in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial.

BACKGROUND: Accurate models to predict mortality are needed for risk stratification in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined 5745 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI in the Assessment of Pexelizumab in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial within 6 hours of symptom onset. A Cox proportional hazards model incorporating regression splines to accommodate nonlinearity in the log hazard ratio (HR) scale was used to determine baseline independent predictors of 90-day mortality. At 90 days, 271 (4.7%) of 5745 patients died. Independent correlates of 90-day mortality were (in descending order of statistical significance) age (HR, 2.03/10-y increments; 95% CI, 1.80 to 2.29), systolic blood pressure (HR, 0.86/10-mm Hg increments; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.90), Killip class (class 3 or 4 versus 1 or 2) (HR, 4.24; 95% CI, 2.97 to 6.08), heart rate (>70 beats per minute) (HR, 1.45/10-beat increments; 95% CI, 1.31 to 1.59), creatinine (HR, 1.23/10-µmol/L increments >90 µmol/L; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.34), sum of ST-segment deviations (HR, 1.25/10-mm increments; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.40), and anterior STEMI location (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.93) (c-index, 0.82). Internal validation with bootstrapping confirmed minimal overoptimism (c-index, 0.81). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a practical method to assess intermediate-term prognosis of patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI, using baseline clinical and ECG variables. This model identifies key factors affecting prognosis and enables quantitative risk stratification that may be helpful in guiding clinical care and for risk adjustment for observational analyses.

Association of patient case-mix adjustment, hospital process performance rankings, and eligibility for financial incentives.

CONTEXT: While most comparisons of hospital outcomes adjust for patient characteristics, process performance comparisons typically do not. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree to which hospital process performance ratings and eligibility for financial incentives are altered after accounting for hospitals' patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and mix of treatment opportunities. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Using data from the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines program between January 2, 2000, and March 28, 2008, we analyzed hospital process performance based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' defined core measures for acute myocardial infarction. Hospitals were initially ranked based on crude composite process performance and then ranked again after accounting for hospitals' patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and eligibility for measures using a hierarchical model. We then compared differences in hospital performance rankings and pay-for-performance financial incentive categories (top 20%, middle 60%, and bottom 20% institutions). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital process performance ranking and pay-for-performance financial incentive categories. RESULTS: A total of 148,472 acute myocardial infarction patients met the study criteria from 449 centers. Hospitals for which crude composite acute myocardial infarction performance was in the bottom quintile (n = 89) were smaller nonacademic institutions that treated a higher percentage of patients from racial or ethnic minority groups and also patients with greater comorbidities than hospitals ranked in the top quintile (n = 90). Although there was overall agreement on hospital rankings based on observed vs adjusted composite scores (weighted kappa, 0.74), individual hospital ranking changed with adjustment (median, 22 ranks; range, 0-214; interquartile range, 9-40). Additionally, 16.5% of institutions (n = 74) changed pay-for-performance financial status categories after accounting for patient and treatment opportunity mix. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that accounting for hospital differences in patient characteristics and treatment opportunities is associated with modest changes in hospital performance rankings and eligibility for financial benefits in pay-for-performance programs for treatment of myocardial infarction.

Insurance coverage and care of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The impact of insurance coverage on the care of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare NSTE ACS care patterns by insurance type. DESIGN: Comparison of Medicaid patients younger than 65 years of age and Medicare patients 65 years of age or older with patients of similar age who have health maintenance organization (HMO) or private insurance coverage. SETTING: 521 U.S. hospitals participating in the CRUSADE (Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress ADverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the ACC [American College of Cardiology]/AHA [American Heart Association] Guidelines) quality improvement initiative from January 2001 through March 2005. PATIENTS: 37,345 NSTE ACS patients younger than 65 years of age and 59,550 patients 65 years of age or older. MEASUREMENTS: Guideline-recommended treatments, and in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS: Medicaid was the primary payer for 18.7% (6999 of 37,345) of patients younger than age 65 years, whereas Medicare was the primary payer for 67.5% (40,199 of 59,550) of patients age 65 years or older. Medicaid patients were statistically significantly less likely to receive short-term (less than 24 hours) medications and to undergo invasive cardiac procedures than patients covered by HMO and private insurance. They also had higher mortality rates (2.9% vs. 1.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.63). Medications and invasive procedures were used to a similar extent in patients with Medicare and HMO or private insurance, and respective mortality rates were not significantly different (6.2% vs. 5.6%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.18). LIMITATIONS: Self-pay patients and patients without insurance were not assessed. CONCLUSIONS: NSTE ACS patients with Medicaid (but not Medicare) as the primary payer were less likely to receive evidence-based therapies and had worse outcomes than patients with HMO or private insurance as the primary payer. The causes of these treatment differences and solutions for narrowing the gaps in quality require further investigation.

Guideline-based standardized care is associated with substantially lower mortality in medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction: the American College of Cardiology's Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) Projects in Michigan.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the impact of the American College of Cardiology's Guidelines Applied in Practice (GAP) project for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care, encompassing 33 acute-care hospitals in southeastern Michigan, on rates of mortality in Medicare patients treated in Michigan. BACKGROUND: The GAP project increases the use of evidence-based therapies in patients with AMI. It is unknown whether GAP also can reduce the rate of mortality in patients with AMI. METHODS: Using a before (n = 1,368) and after GAP implementation (n = 1,489) cohort study, 2,857 Medicare patients with AMI were studied to assess the influence of the GAP program on mortality. Multivariate models tested the independent impact of GAP after controlling for other conditions on in-hospital, 30-day, and one-year mortality. RESULTS: Average patient age was 76 years, 48% were women, and 16% represented non-white minorities. The rate of mortality decreased after GAP for each interval studied: hospital, 10.4% versus 13.6%; 30-day, 16.7% versus 21.6%; and one-year, 33.2% versus 38.3%; all p < 0.02. After multivariate adjustment, GAP correlated with a 21% to 26% reduction in mortality, particularly at 30 days (odds ratio of GAP to baseline 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59 to 0.94; p = 0.012) and one year (odds ratio 0.78; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.95; p = 0.013), particularly in the patients for whom a standard discharge tool was used (1-year mortality, odds ratio 0.53; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.76; p = 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS: Embedding AMI guidelines into practice was associated with improved 30-day and one-year mortality. This benefit is most marked when patients are cared for using standardized, evidence-based clinical care tools.

Improved quality of stroke care for hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries in Michigan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We reported previously that acute ischemic stroke patients encountered delays in obtaining neuroimaging and receiving thrombolysis, and that deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis was used only in a minority of eligible patients. We investigated whether these and other measures improved after a quality improvement initiative. METHODS: Medicare fee-for-service ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack discharges in 136 acute care hospitals in Michigan were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Only patients with stroke symptoms persisting for >1 hour and present on arrival were included in the analysis. Seven quality indicators were abstracted from chart review at baseline (discharges between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 1999) and at remeasurement (discharges between January 1, 2001, and June 30, 2001) after an intensive quality improvement initiative throughout Michigan hospitals. Quality indicators were compared at baseline and remeasurement. RESULTS: Indicators of care were determined in 5146 patients at baseline and 4980 patients on remeasurement. Four quality-of-care indicators showed significant improvement on remeasurement: antithrombotic prescribed at discharge (81.9 baseline versus 83.7% remeasurement; P=0.026), avoidance of sublingual nifedipine in patients with acute ischemic stroke (97.1 versus 99.7%; P<0.0001), documentation of a computed tomography (CT)/MRI during hospitalization (98.0 versus 99.1%; P=0.024), and appropriate deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis (13.8 versus 26.9%; P<0.0001). Time to CT/MRI did not significantly change, but time to thrombolysis improved (113 versus 88.5 minutes; P=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Improvement occurred in several indicators of quality of care in Michigan Medicare beneficiaries presenting with acute stroke symptoms.

Differences in quality of care among patients hospitalized with atrial fibrillation as primary or secondary cause for admission.

OBJECTIVE: Several factors have been linked to the variation in the quality of care for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether hospitalization primarily for AF (primary diagnosis of AF) as opposed to another primary diagnosis but having concomitant AF (secondary diagnosis of AF) impacts quality of care for AF is not known. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the differences in quality of care of Medicare patients admitted with primary diagnosis versus secondary diagnosis of AF. DESIGN AND SETTING: We studied a random sample of Medicare fee-for-service discharges from Michigan's acute care hospitals over a 1-year period with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AF (ICD-9-CM 427.31). Main outcome measure. Warfarin use at the time of discharge. RESULTS: Of 5993 patients in the study, 772 had a primary diagnosis of AF and 5221 had a secondary diagnosis of AF. Patients with a secondary diagnosis of AF were older, more likely to be male, and less likely to be hypertensive. Patients with a secondary diagnosis of AF 'ideal' for anticoagulation (n = 1648) were less likely to receive warfarin compared with 'ideal' patients with primary diagnosis of AF (n = 363) (52.6% versus. 59.8%, P < 0.001). Adherence to test indicators was lower in patients with secondary diagnosis of AF. CONCLUSION: Secondary diagnosis of AF rather than AF as a primary diagnosis appears to account for most Medicare patients with AF admitted to hospitals. Whereas quality of care is lower in patients with secondary diagnosis of AF, opportunity for quality improvement exists for both groups of patients with AF.

Acute ischemic stroke in hospitalized medicare patients: evaluation and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study describes several quality indicators of care in hospitalized stroke patients in Michigan from 1998 to 1999. SUMMARY OF REPORT: Median times from admission to head CT/MRI (89.5 minutes) and thrombolysis (113 minutes) exceeded recommended guidelines. Deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis was used in only 13.8% of eligible patients. CONCLUSIONS: Timing for brain imaging and acute ischemic stroke symptom onset need to be better documented, along with more provider education for routine deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.