A collaborative approach to develop indicators for quality of care for ST segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in networks without coronary intervention: A position paper.

BACKGROUND: Data about performance measures (PM) in patients with ST segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in low- and middle-income countries is really scarce. One of the reasons is the lack of appropriate measures for these scenarios where coronary intervention is not the standard treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a set of PM and quality markers for patients with STEMI in these countries. METHODS: Two investigators systematically reviewed existing guidelines and scientific literature to identify potential PM by referring to documents searched through PubMed from 2010 through 2019, using terms "Myocardial Infarction", "STEMI", "quality indicator", and "performance measure". A modified Delphi technique, involving multidisciplinary panel interview, was used. A 15-member multidisciplinary expert panel individually rated each potential indicator on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) during three rounds. All indicators that received a median score ≥4.5, in final round without significant disagreement were included as PM. RESULTS: Through the consensus-building process, 84 potential indicators were found, of which 10 were proposed as performance measures and 2 as quality metrics, as follows: Pre-Hospital Electrocardiogram; Patients with reperfusion therapy; Pre-hospital Reperfusion; Ischemic time less than 120 minutes; System delay time less than 90 minutes; In-hospital Mortality; Complete in-hospital Treatment; Complete in-hospital Treatment in patients with Heart Failure; 30 day-Re-admissions; 30 day-mortality; Patients with in-hospital stress test performed; and, Patients included in rehabilitation programs. CONCLUSION: This document provides the official set of PM of attention in ST segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction of the Cuban Society of Cardiology and Cuban National Group of Cardiology.

Performance Measures in STEMI after COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the RECUIMA Registry

Abstract Background To offer proper medical care to patients with ST-segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in low- and middle-income settings (LMIS) is challenging. However, it is not known if performance indicators have changed back after the epidemiological recovery. Objective to describe performance measures (PM) in patients with STEMI during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Observational study of patients with STEMI, from an LMIS, with analysis of PM suggested in the 2017 AHA-ACC Performance Measures for Adults with STEMI. COVID-19 period was determined from January 2020 to October 2021, and from November 2021 to February 2022 as the post-COVID-19 period. Baseline characteristics, treatments and selected PM were compared using the χ2 test or Mann-Whitney U test. All tests were two-sided, and statistical significance was considered as p-value <0.05. Coronary interventionism-related PM were not reported. Results Administration of thrombolysis decreased (71.2% vs 51.6% (p: 0.001)), while the delay time for its administration (Median (Interquartile Range)) increased considerably (30 min (16-60) to 45 min (35- 60) (p: 0.003)). Aspirin at admission was administered in each period at 92.9% vs 94.2% (p: 0.62); and at discharge to 97.8% vs 98.9% (p: 0.48). Beta-blockers, P2Y12 inhibitors, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with heart failure were administered to 67.1% vs 85.1% (p: 0.01), 96.4% vs 84% (p: 0.001), 96.2 % vs 95.7% (p: 1), and 81.2% vs 94.3% (p: 0.14), respectively. Conclusion Despite this being a current period of epidemiological recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact the care of patients with STEMI.

Monitoring quality of care in acute myocardial infarction complicated by acute heart failure using electronic medical record data: Experience of an underdeveloped country network

Background. Several improvements in performance measure (PM) have been described, in Cuba, in patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). However, it still no clear if reported enhancement has an influence in management of STEMI complicated with Acute Heart Failure. The objective of this study is to determine if those changes in renewed protocol have improved PM of attention of this specific subgroup. Methods and material. Gathering data of patients after June 2014 is mandatory in a web-based tool, which allows, real time following of selected PM. After a first stage, updating in protocol was written, focusing in several gaps. The first stage closed with 81 patients admitted with heart failure after STEMI, meanwhile until late December 2019, other 126 patients were included. Data regarding PM was obtained from all registries, except for those PM related with coronary intervention. Results. Improvement in management was observed for 6 of presented PM for overall population; and in patients with cardiogenic shock, up to 6 PM were fully accomplished in both stages. Pharmacological treatments were administered fulfilling high standards, but no enhancement of in-hospital mortality was observed (19.4% vs. 18.5%; p: 0.86). Although not significant, thrombolytic decreased its prevalence in overall population (57.4 vs 48.1; p: 0.15), and in cardiogenic shock (29.4% vs 25%; p: 0.76). Conclusion. Performance measures were enhanced after an update in protocols of attention. However, most important ones didn’t suffer any changes. Efforts to maintain this increase in PM need to be taken.

Introdução. Diversas melhorias na medida de desempenho (MD) foram descritas, em Cuba, em pacientes com infarto do miocárdio com elevação do segmento ST (STEMI). No entanto, ainda não está claro se o realce relatado tem uma influência no tratamento do STEMI complicado com insuficiência cardíaca aguda. O objetivo deste estudo é determinarse essas mudanças no protocolo renovado melhoraram a atenção do MD deste subgrupo específico. Material e métodos. A coleta de dados dos pacientes após junho de 2014 é obrigatória em uma ferramenta baseada na web, que permite o acompanhamento em tempo real dos MD selecionados. Após uma primeira etapa, foi feita a atualização do protocolo, com foco em várias lacunas. A primeira fase encerrou com 81 pacientes internados com insuficiência cardíaca após IAMCSST, enquanto até o final de dezembro de 2019, outros 126 pacientes foram incluídos. Os dados sobre MD foram obtidos de todos os registros, exceto para MD relacionados com intervenção coronária. Resultados. Melhoria na gestão foi observada para 6 das MD apresentadas. Os tratamentos farmacológicos foram administrados de acordo com altos padrões, mas não foi observado aumento da mortalidade intra-hospitalar (21% vs. 24,6%; p: 0,54). Embora não seja significativo, o trombolítico aumenta sua prevalência fora do hospital (12/46 vs. 26/72; p: 0,256). Conclusão. As medidas de desempenho foram aprimoradas após uma atualização nos protocolos de atenção. No entanto, os mais importantes não sofreram alterações. Esforços para manter esse aumento na MD precisam ser feitos.

Antecedentes. Se han descrito varias mejoras en la medición del desempeño (MD), en Cuba, en pacientes con infarto de miocardio con elevación del ST (IAMCEST). Sin embargo, todavía no está claro si la mejora informada tiene influencia en el tratamiento del IAMCEST complicado con insuficiencia cardíaca aguda. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si esos cambios en el protocolo renovado han mejorado la MD de atención de este subgrupo específico. Material y métodos. La recopilación de datos de pacientes después de junio de 2014 es obligatoria en una herramienta basada en web, que permite el seguimiento en tiempo real de los MD seleccionados. Luego de una primera etapa, se redactó la actualización en protocolo, enfocándose en varios aspectos de deficiente cumplimiento. La primera etapa cerró con 81 pacientes ingresados por insuficiencia cardíaca tras IAMCEST, mientras que hasta finales de diciembre de 2019 se incluyeron otros 126 pacientes. Los datos sobre MD se obtuvieron de todos los registros, excepto los relacionados con la intervención coronaria. Resultados. Se observó una mejora en el manejo para 6 MD presentados. Los tratamientos farmacológicos se administraron cumpliendo altos estándares, pero no se observó un aumento de la mortalidad hospitalaria (21% vs 24,6%; p=0,54). Aunque no es significativo, los trombolíticos aumentan la prevalencia extrahospitalaria (12/46 vs 26/72; p=0,256). Conclusión. Se mejoraron las medidas de desempeño luego de una actualización en los protocolos de atención. Sin embargo, los más importantes no sufrieron cambios. Es necesario realizar esfuerzos para mantener este aumento de MD.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Performance Measures in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective    To assess performance measures of attention of STEMI in Coronary Intensive Care Unit in General Hospital Camilo Cienfuegos.Methods    Admitted patients with STEMI, from February-April 2020, were compared with patients from similar period from 2015-2019, and patients from January 2019 to January 2020. Primary endpoint were performance measures according to the 2017 AHA / ACC Clinical Performance and Quality Measures for Adults with STEMI document, and secondary endpoint were all-cause in-hospital mortality and major acute coronary events.Results    Only 35 patients were admitted from February-April 2020. When comparing with similar periods from recent years, in-hospital death (8.3 % vs. 20 %; p=0.03), major complications (38.7 % vs. 57.1 %; p=0.03), and cardiogenic shock (6.9 % vs. 17.4 %; p=0.04) were significantly higher. When comparing with 2019 and January 2020, in-hospital death (9.6 %; p=0.04), and major complications (35.8 % p=0.03) were significantly higher in February-April 2020; however, there was no difference in prevalence of cardiogenic shock (8 %; p=0.12).Conclusion    COVID-19 pandemic had decreased prevalence of STEMI, as well as some performance measures of attention in this center.

Body mass index and in-hospital outcomes in patient's ≥80 years with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Results from low income country without coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: In most scenarios from low/middle income countries, pharmacological approach for ST elevation Myocardial Infarction is still use. In these setting and increase proportion of elderly patients is awaited. So it is also expected to have older patients with suboptimal treatment and risk stratification. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the body mass index (BMI) on in-hospital outcomes in a cohort of elderly (≥80 years) patients, from a center without coronary intervention. METHODS: Patient's ≥80 years of age admitted to our institution between June 2014 and May 2019 with STEMI, were divided according BMI tertiles (BMI tertile 1: ≪22.36 kg/m2, BMI tertile2: 22.36-25.71 kg/m2, and BMI tertile 3: ≫25.71 kg/m2). The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality RESULTS: Out of 118 patients, 41 (34.74%) were women. Median age was 84.4 ± 3.5 years and median BMI 24.1 ± 3.7 kg/m2. Women had a higher BMI than men (24.4 ± 4.0 vs 24.0 ± 3.6; p: 0.535). All-cause mortality was 33.3%, 2.5%, and 15% for lower, middle, and higher BMI tertiles (p=0.002). To belong to BMI tertile 1 was associated with an increased all-cause mortality (OR: 5.15, 95% CI 1.84-14.28, p = 0.001); and in patients without administration of streptokinase (OR: 9.52, 95% CI 2.34-38.45, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study reports association between lower BMI values and increased mortality in elderly patients with and without pharmacological reperfusion with streptokinase.