Coronary angioplasty in New Zealand 1995-1998: a report from the National Coronary Angioplasty Registry.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To report coronary angioplasty data collected by the New Zealand Coronary Angioplasty Registry from 1995-1998. METHOD: Information on all patients undergoing attempted coronary angioplasty in eight New Zealand institutions was recorded on datasheets at the time of, or soon after, the procedure. These were forwarded to the registry at Green Lane Hospital. RESULTS: Over the four-year period, 8395 angioplasty procedures were performed by 26 cardiologists in eight coronary interventional facilities, with a procedural success rate of 94%. Procedural numbers grew steadily, with 55% more coronary angioplasties performed in 1998 than in 1995 (p = 0.02). The New Zealand national angioplasty rate, which rose from 459/million population in 1995 to 684/million in 1998, remains lower than that of Australia and Western European countries. Excluding those that underwent angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, the number of peri-procedural deaths was similar, with six in 1995 and four in 1998 (p = 0.30), and the requirement for emergency bypass surgery fell from 22 cases in 1995 to three in 1998 (p < 0.001). The use of stents increased dramatically, with 85% of patients receiving a stent in 1998, compared with 23% in 1995 (370% increase, p < 0.001). This was associated with a reduction in the number of patients requiring repeat percutaneous interventions for restenosis (10.7% in 1995 to 6.4% in 1998, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There has been a steady growth in the numbers of patients with coronary artery disease treated by coronary angioplasty, and in the number treated by intracoronary stents from 1995 to 1998. The need for urgent coronary bypass surgery has fallen. Continued submission of complete and accurate data to the coronary angioplasty registry is vital for ongoing audit.