Impact of STEMI Diagnosis and Catheterization Laboratory Activation Systems on Sex- and Age-Based Differences in Treatment Delay.

BACKGROUND: Women and the elderly with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) experience longer treatment delays despite prehospital STEMI diagnosis and catheterization laboratory activation systems. It is not known what role specific STEMI referral systems might play in mediating this gap in care. We therefore examined sex- and age-based differences in STEMI treatment delay (TD) in different STEMI activation systems. METHODS: This observational comparative effectiveness study comprised 3 retrospective STEMI cohorts: a traditional hospital-based activation cohort (Cohort 1), an automated "physician-blind" prehospital activation cohort (Cohort 2), and a prehospital activation with real-time physician oversight cohort (Cohort 3). Outcomes of interest included sex and age group (< or ≥ 75 years) differences in suboptimal (> 90 minutes) first medical contact-to-device time (FMC-to-device) within each cohort, as well as independent predictors of suboptimal FMC-to-device and in-hospital mortality across cohorts. RESULTS: Five hundred-sixty STEMI activations were analyzed. In Cohort 1 (n = 179), women and those ≥ 75 were more likely to experience suboptimal FMC-to-device times (78.7% vs 36.4%, P = 0.02 and 85.0% vs 58.3%, < 0.01, respectively). Similar findings were observed in Cohort 3 (n = 109) (53.5% vs 32.9%, 56.5% vs 33.3%, respectively; P = 0.05, for both). In Cohort 2 (n = 272), however, there was no significant age-based difference (30.4% vs 21.7%, P = 0.18), and the gap was numerically lower but still significant for women (32.1% vs 20.1%, P = 0.04). When examining prehospital activation cohorts only, female sex (P = 0.03), off-hours presentation (P < 0.01), and physician oversight (P < 0.01) were independent predictors of longer FMC-to-device times. Age ≥ 75 (P < 0.01), Killip class (P < 0.01), and female sex (P = 0.04) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Automated "physician-blind" STEMI activation was associated with a reduced TD gap in women and the elderly, suggesting possible systemic bias. Appropriately powered confirmatory studies are required, but incorporating automated diagnosis and catheterization laboratory activation may be a solution to treatment gaps in STEMI care.

INTRODUCTION: Les femmes et les personnes présentant ont un infarctus du myocarde avec élévation du segment ST (STEMI) subissent de plus longs retards de traitement en dépit du diagnostic préhospitalier de STEMI et des systèmes d'activation de laboratoires de cathétérisme. On ignore le rôle que pourraient jouer les systèmes d'aiguillage des personnes atteintes de STEMI pour combler cette lacune en matière de soins. Nous avons donc examiné les différences selon le sexe et l'âge dans le retard de traitement du STEMI des différents systèmes d'activation de laboratoire en présence de STEMI. MÉTHODES: La présente étude comparative sur l'efficacité regroupait trois cohortes rétrospectives de STEMI : une cohorte traditionnelle d'activation à l'hôpital (cohorte 1), une cohorte d'activation du laboratoire lors de diagnostic préhospitalier automatisé « à l'insu du médecin ¼ (cohorte 2) et une cohorte d'activation du laboratoire de diagnostic préhospitalier dont la surveillance est assurée par un médecin en temps réel (cohorte 3). Les critères d'intérêt étaient les différences selon le sexe et le groupe d'âge (< ou ≥ 75 ans) dans le taux d'intervalle sous-optimal entre la première prise de contact avec les services médicaux et la pose d'un dispositif (> 90 minutes) au sein de chaque cohorte, ainsi que les prédicteurs indépendants de l'intervalle sous-optimal entre la première prise de contact avec les services médicaux et la pose d'un dispositif et la mortalité à l'hôpital de toutes les cohortes. RÉSULTATS: Cinq cents soixante (560) activations de diagnostic de STEMI ont fait l'objet d'une analyse. Dans la cohorte 1 (n = 179), les femmes et les personnes ≥ 75 ans étaient plus susceptibles de subir des intervalles sous-optimaux entre la première prise de contact avec les services médicaux et la pose d'un dispositif (78,7 % vs 36,4 %, P = 0,02 et 85,0 % vs 58,3 %, < 0,01, respectivement). Nous avons observé des résultats similaires dans la cohorte 3 (n = 109) (53,5 % vs 32,9 %, 56,5 % vs 33,3 %, respectivement ; P = 0,05, pour les deux). Toutefois, dans la cohorte 2 (n = 272), il n'y avait aucune différence significative selon l'âge (30,4 % vs 21,7 %, P = 0,18) et l'écart était numériquement plus faible, mais encore significatif chez les femmes (32,1 % vs 20,1 %, P = 0,04). Lorsque nous examinions seulement les cohortes d'activation du laboratoire lors de diagnostic préhospitalier, le sexe féminin (P = 0,03), la survenue dans les heures creuses (P < 0,01) et la surveillance du médecin (P < 0,01) étaient des prédicteurs indépendants d'intervalles plus longs entre la première prise de contact avec les services médicaux et la pose d'un dispositif. L'âge ≥ 75 ans (P < 0,01), la classification de Killip (P < 0,01) et le sexe féminin (P < 0,04) étaient indépendamment associés à la mortalité à l'hôpital. CONCLUSIONS: L'activation du laboratoire lors de diagnostic automatisé du STEMI « à l'insu du médecin ¼ a été associée à une réduction de l'écart dans le retard de traitement chez les femmes et les personnes âgées. Ceci indique un possible biais systémique. Des études confirmatives d'une puissance suffisante sont nécessaires, mais l'incorporation du diagnostic et de l'activation du laboratoire de cathétérisme atuomatisés peut être une solution aux écarts de traitement dans les soins de STEMI.

Effect of Real-Time Physician Oversight of Prehospital STEMI Diagnosis on ECG-Inappropriate and False Positive Catheterization Laboratory Activation.

BACKGROUND: ST-elevation myocardial infarction diagnosis at first medical contact (FMC) and prehospital cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) activation are associated with reduced total ischemic time and therefore have become the dominant ST-elevation myocardial infarction referral method in primary percutaneous coronary intervention systems. We sought to determine whether physician oversight was associated with improved diagnostic performance in a prehospital CCL activation system and what effect the additional interpretation has on treatment delay. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2015, all patients in 2 greater Montreal catchment areas with a chief symptom of chest paint or dyspnea had an in-the-field electrocardiogram (ECG). A machine diagnosis of "acute myocardial infarction" resulted either in automatic CCL (automated cohort without oversight) or transmission of the ECG to the receiving centre emergency physician for reinterpretation before CCL activation. System performance was assessed in terms of the proportion of false positive and inappropriate activations (IA), as well as the proportion of patients with FMC-to-device times ≤ 90 minutes. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-eight (428) activations were analyzed (311 automated; 117 with physician oversight). Physician oversight tended to decrease IAs (7% vs 3%; P = 0.062), but was also associated with a smaller proportion of patients achieving target FMC-to-device (76% vs 60%; P < 0.001). There was no significant effect on the proportion of false positive activation. CONCLUSIONS: Real-time physician oversight might be associated with fewer IAs, but also appears to have a deleterious effect on FMC-to-device performance. Identifying predictors of IA could improve overall performance by selecting ECGs that merit physician oversight and streamlining others. Larger clinical studies are warranted.

CONTEXTE: Un diagnostic d'infarctus du myocarde avec élévation du segment ST au moment du premier contact avec un professionnel de la santé et l'activation du processus de cathétérisme cardiaque avant l'arrivée à l'hôpital sont associés à une réduction de la durée totale de l'épisode ischémique, et sont donc désormais la méthode de préférence en cas d'infarctus du myocarde avec élévation du segment ST dans les établissements où l'intervention coronarienne percutanée primaire est possible. Nous avons voulu déterminer si la supervision par un médecin était associée à une amélioration de la justesse du diagnostic dans un tel contexte et les répercussions d'une interprétation additionnelle sur les délais de traitement. MÉTHODOLOGIE: De 2012 à 2015, tous les patients de deux zones desservies du Grand Montréal qui présentaient comme principal symptôme une douleur à la poitrine ou une dyspnée ont subi un électrocardiogramme (ECG) sur le terrain. Un diagnostic d'infarctus aigu du myocarde posé par l'appareil a automatiquement donné lieu à l'activation du processus de cathétérisme cardiaque (cohorte automatisée sans supervision) ou à la transmission de l'ECG à l'urgentologue de l'établissement où le patient était conduit pour la réinterprétation des résultats avant l'activation du processus de cathétérisme cardiaque. La performance du système a été évaluée en fonction de la proportion de faux positifs et d'activations inappropriées, ainsi que de la proportion de patients chez qui le délai entre le premier contact avec un professionnel de la santé et l'intervention était ≤ 90 minutes. RÉSULTATS: Quatre cent vingt-huit (428) activations du processus ont été analysées (311 automatisées; 117 après la supervision par un médecin). La supervision par un médecin était associée à une baisse non significative des activations inappropriées du processus (7 % vs 3 %; p = 0,062), mais était aussi associée à une plus faible proportion de patients chez qui le délai visé entre le premier contact avec un professionnel de la santé et l'intervention était respecté (76 % vs 60 %; p < 0,001). Aucun effet significatif quant à la proportion de faux positifs n'a été observé. CONCLUSIONS: La supervision en temps réel par un médecin pourrait être associée à une réduction des activations inappropriées du processus de cathétérisme cardiaque urgent, mais pourrait également nuire aux résultats quant au délai entre le premier contact avec un professionnel de la santé et l'intervention. L'identification des facteurs prédictifs d'une activation inappropriée du processus pourrait améliorer les résultats globaux en permettant de choisir les résultats d'ECG qui mériteraient d'être passés en revue par le médecin, et en déclenchant le processus habituel pour les autres. Des études cliniques de plus grande envergure sont de mise.

Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy and associated outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction: contemporary practice insights from the Canadian Observational Antiplatelet Study.

Aims: There is a paucity of real-world, contemporary data of practice patterns and clinical outcomes following dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods and results: The Canadian Observational Antiplatelet Study was a prospective, multicentre, cohort study examining adenosine diphosphate receptor antagonist use following PCI for AMI. We compared practice patterns, patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes in relation to DAPT duration (<6 weeks, 6 weeks to <6 months, 6 to <12, and ≥12 months). The primary outcome was the composite of non-fatal AMI, unplanned coronary revascularization, stent thrombosis, new or worsening heart failure, cardiogenic shock, or stroke. We identified 2034 patients with AMI treated with PCI. DAPT duration was <6 weeks in 5.2% of patients; 6 weeks to <6 months in 7.0%; 6 to <12 months in 12.6%; and ≥12 months in 75.3%. Patients who discontinued DAPT early had higher GRACE risk scores. Overall, mortality rate at 15 months was 2.5%. Compared with a duration of DAPT of ≥12 months, discontinuation of DAPT <6 weeks (P < 0.0001) and 6 weeks to <6 months (P = 0.02), but not 6 months to <12 months (P = 0.06), were independently associated with a higher incidence of the primary outcome among survivors. Conclusion: One-in-four patients with AMI treated with PCI discontinued DAPT prior to the guideline-recommended 12-month duration. Patients in whom DAPT was discontinued early were at higher baseline risk and had higher rates of non-fatal ischaemic events during follow up.

Baseline characteristics, adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitor treatment patterns, and in-hospital outcomes of myocardial infarction patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the prospective Canadian Observational AntiPlatelet sTudy (COAPT).

BACKGROUND: Contemporary use of dual antiplatelet therapy and consistency with guideline recommendations in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have not been well characterized. METHODS: The COAPT was a prospective, observational, multicenter, longitudinal study of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) undergoing PCI. Baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, processes of care, factors associated with switching to and from novel adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors (ADPris), and in-hospital outcomes are described. RESULTS: Among 2,179 MI patients undergoing PCI during their index hospitalization, 1,328 (60.9%) had ST elevation. Initial ADPri use included clopidogrel in 1,812 (83.2%), prasugrel in 125 (5.7%), and ticagrelor in 242 (11.1%). At discharge, 1,597 patients (73.4%) were prescribed clopidogrel, 220 (10.1%) prasugrel, and 358 (16.5%) ticagrelor. Switching between ADPri therapies during the index hospitalization occurred in 15.3%, 22.4%, and 25.2% of patients initially started on clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor, respectively. Most switches over the 15-month study period occurred during the index admission (16.8% of patients vs 4.4% switches postdischarge). Major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 7.5% of patients during the index hospitalization. In-hospital bleeding events occurred in 6.0% of patients and most were mild. CONCLUSIONS: Despite randomized trial evidence and guideline recommendations, only a minority of Canadian MI patients undergoing PCI initially received or were discharged on one of the newer ADPri agents. These findings suggest an opportunity to improve upon the appropriate selection of the ADPris at index hospitalization and discharge in Canadian MI patients undergoing PCI.

Catheter-induced aortic dissection after invasive coronary angiography: evaluation with MDCT.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the MDCT findings of retrograde aortic extension of catheter-induced coronary artery dissection and the use of MDCT in follow-up of this complication. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery dissection with aortic extension can be a fatal although infrequent complication. The coronary artery entry point is usually stented in the catheterization laboratory. Thereafter, CT is the imaging modality of choice for immediate confirmation of the presence of residual iatrogenic aortic dissection and evaluation of its extent and later noninvasive follow-up.

Influence of technical strategies on the outcome of coronary bifurcation stenting.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze from a large prospective database started in 1996, the immediate and mid term results of coronary bifurcation stenting using bare metal stents. BACKGROUND: Stenting of bifurcation lesions remains a challenging subset. Various approaches have been advocated and no large prospective studies are available on this subject. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2002, data were prospectively collected on all patients with bifurcation lesions treated with coronary stenting in our institution. Seven-month follow-up data were obtained in 96.7% of patients and coronary angiogram was performed in the presence of clinical or stress test ischemia. The database was analyzed to extract uni-variate and multivariate predictors of acute and 7 months adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 1,149 patients were included, median age 65 years, 19% diabetic patients, unstable angina in 37.3% of cases and acute MI 10.5%. The target was the LAD-diagonal bifurcation in 53.2% of cases. Angiographic success (residual stenosis < 30%) was obtained in 96.3% of cases for the main branch (MB) and side branch (SB) 92.9 % (residual stenosis < 50%). The in-hospital MACE rate was 4.6 %. At seven months follow-up, a total MACE rate of 18.1% was observed including a target vessel revascularization rate of 13.2% and death rate of 1.6%. By multivariate analysis, independent predictors of MACE at seven month follow-up were unstable angina (OR 5.02 , p = 0.001, 95 % CI : 3.5 - 7.2), type 4 lesion (OR 3.31, p = 0.005, 95 % CI : 1.4 - 7.7), a MB < 2.7 mm (OR 1.8, p = 0.024, 95 % CI : 1.08 - 3.01), non use of a provisional T stenting strategy for the SB (OR 0.48, p = 0.006, 95 % CI : 0.40 - 0.86), and SB stenting (OR 1.48, p = 0.035, 95 % CI : 1.32 - 2.14). CONCLUSION: Provisional T stenting strategy applied to the SB is a predictor of favourable outcome after coronary bifurcation stenting using bare metal stents. It significantly reduces the rate of MACE as well as the need for repeat TVR at 7-month follow-up.