Prevalence and real-world management of NSTEMI with multivessel disease.

Background: Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) has higher post-discharge mortality than ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Prognosis worsens in those with multivessel coronary disease (MVD). However, information about the prevalence and extent of MVD in NSTEMI is limited, in turn limiting insights into optimal treatment strategies. This study aimed to define the prevalence and extent of MVD, preferred treatment strategies and the predictors of MVD in a real-world NSTEMI population. Methods: The Coronary Angiogram Database of South Australia (CADOSA) was used to identify consecutive patients presenting to major teaching hospitals with NSTEMI between 2012 and 2016. Obtaining clinical and angiographic details, patients were stratified by the number of significantly diseased vessels (0,1,2,3-VD), defined by a stenosis of ≥70%, or ≥50% in the left main coronary artery. Data was analysed retrospectively. Results: The prevalence of MVD (2- or 3-VD) was 42% amongst 3,722 NSTEMI presentations. Multivariate logistic regression modelling showed age, male gender, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and prior myocardial infarction predicted MVD over 1-VD or 0-VD. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 42% of patients with MVD. This comprised 61% of 2-VD patients and only 22% of 3-VD patients, with 24% and 66% of each group referred for coronary bypass grafting, respectively. Among MVD patients treated with PCI, 76% had their culprit lesion treated alone in the index admission. Conclusions: In this NSTEMI cohort, over 40% had MVD. Notably, a minority of patients with MVD undergoing PCI received multivessel revascularisation. This real-world practice emphasises that further evaluation is required to determine whether complete revascularisation is beneficial in NSTEMI, as reported for STEMI.

Implementation and prospective evaluation of the Country Heart Attack Prevention model of care to improve attendance and completion of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular diseases living in rural Australia: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Despite extensive evidence of its benefits and recommendation by guidelines, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains highly underused with only 20%-50% of eligible patients participating. We aim to implement and evaluate the Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP) model of care to improve CR attendance and completion for rural and remote participants. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: CHAP will apply the model for large-scale knowledge translation to develop and implement a model of care to CR in rural Australia. Partnering with patients, clinicians and health service managers, we will codevelop new approaches and refine/expand existing ones to address known barriers to CR attendance. CHAP will codesign a web-based CR programme with patients expanding their choices to CR attendance. To increase referral rates, CHAP will promote endorsement of CR among clinicians and develop an electronic system that automatises referrals of in-hospital eligible patients to CR. A business model that includes reimbursement of CR delivered in primary care by Medicare will enable sustainable access to CR. To promote CR quality improvement, professional development interventions and an accreditation programme of CR services and programmes will be developed. To evaluate 12-month CR attendance/completion (primary outcome), clinical and cost-effectiveness (secondary outcomes) between patients exposed (n=1223) and not exposed (n=3669) to CHAP, we will apply a multidesign approach that encompasses a prospective cohort study, a pre-post study and a comprehensive economic evaluation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/20/SAC/78) and by the Department for Health and Wellbeing Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/HRE00270), which approved a waiver of informed consent. Findings and dissemination to patients and clinicians will be through a public website, online educational sessions and scientific publications. Deidentified data will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12621000222842.

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries as compared with myocardial infarction and obstructive coronary disease: outcomes in a Medicare population.

AIMS: The prognosis of patients with MINOCA (myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries) is poorly understood. We examined major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as all-cause mortality, re-hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), or stroke 12-months post-AMI in patients with MINOCA versus AMI patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (MICAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Multicentre, observational cohort study of patients with AMI (≥65 years) from the National Cardiovascular Data Registry CathPCI Registry (July 2009-December 2013) who underwent coronary angiography with linkage to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) claims data. Patients were classified as MICAD or MINOCA by the presence or absence of an epicardial vessel with ≥50% stenosis. The primary endpoint was MACE at 12 months, and secondary endpoints included the components of MACE over 12 months. Among 286 780 AMI admissions (276 522 unique patients), 16 849 (5.9%) had MINOCA. The 12-month rates of MACE (18.7% vs. 27.6%), mortality (12.3% vs. 16.7%), and re-hospitalization for AMI (1.3% vs. 6.1%) and HF (5.9% vs. 9.3%) were significantly lower for MINOCA vs. MICAD patients (P < 0.001), but was similar between MINOCA and MICAD patients for re-hospitalization for stroke (1.6% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.128). Following risk-adjustment, MINOCA patients had a 43% lower risk of MACE over 12 months (hazard ratio = 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.59), in comparison to MICAD patients. This pattern was similar for adjusted risks of the MACE components. CONCLUSION: This study confirms an unfavourable prognosis in elderly patients with MINOCA undergoing coronary angiography, with one in five patients with MINOCA suffering a major adverse event over 12 months.

Impact of a regionalised clinical cardiac support network on mortality among rural patients with myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the regionalised Integrated Cardiovascular Clinical Network (ICCNet) on 30-day mortality among patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in an Australian rural setting. DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: An integrated cardiac support network incorporating standardised risk stratification, point-of-care troponin testing and cardiologist-supported decision making was progressively implemented in non-metropolitan areas of South Australia from 2001 to 2008. Hospital administrative data and statewide death records from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2010 were used to evaluate outcomes for patients diagnosed with MI in rural and metropolitan hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality. RESULTS: 29 623 independent contiguous episodes of MI were identified. The mean predicted 30-day mortality was lower among rural patients compared with metropolitan patients, while actual mortality rates were higher (30-day mortality: rural, 705/5630 [12.52%] v metropolitan, 2140/23 993 [8.92%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.33-1.60; P< 0.001). After adjustment for temporal improvement in MI outcome, availability of immediate cardiac support was associated with a 22% relative odds reduction in 30-day mortality (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93; P= 0.007). A strong association between network support and transfer of patients to metropolitan hospitals was observed (before ICCNet, 1102/2419 [45.56%] v after ICCNet, 2100/3211 [65.4%]; P< 0.001), with lower mortality observed among transferred patients. CONCLUSION: Cardiologist-supported remote risk stratification, management and facilitated access to tertiary hospital-based early invasive management are associated with an improvement in 30-day mortality for patients who initially present to rural hospitals and are diagnosed with MI. These interventions closed the gap in mortality between rural and metropolitan patients in South Australia.