Prescribing Performance Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Using a Composite Medication Indicator: ANZACS-QI 24.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines previously recommended use of dual antiplatelet therapy, statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARB) and beta blockers (five classes of drugs) in patients without contraindications or intolerance after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, recent guidelines have taken a more nuanced view regarding the use of ACEI/ARB and beta blockers. Our aim was to develop a composite post-discharge medication indicator, based on available evidence, to support quality improvement. METHODS: 4,112 consecutive post-ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessment in 2015-16 were recorded in the All New Zealand ACS Quality Improvement (ANZACS-QI) registry. Patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting were excluded. Three composite indicator algorithms that took into account known contraindications/intolerances were compared across NZ District Health Boards (DHBs): RESULTS: Overall and individual DHB performance was highest (74%, DHB range 52-84%) when reported using the NHFA/CSANZ indicator, and slightly lower (69%, DHB range 48-78%) on the ANZACS-QI indicator. Performance was lowest using the older five-drug-class indicator (65%, DHB range 48-77%). CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a composite post-discharge medication indicator appropriate for use in identifying gaps in evidence-based management across NZ, which is now being reported regularly to DHBs.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Left Main Coronary Disease in New Zealand: National Linkage Study of Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes (ANZACS-QI 38).

BACKGROUND: Approximately 5% of coronary angiographies detect LMS disease >50%. Recent randomized trials showed PCI has comparable outcomes to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in low or intermediate risk candidates. In clinical practice, PCI is frequently utilized in those with prohibitive surgical risk. We reviewed contemporary national results of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for left main coronary disease (LMS) disease in New Zealand. METHODS: All patients undergoing PCI for LMS disease from 01/09/2014-24/09/2017 were extracted from the All New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome-Quality Improvement registry with national dataset linkage, analyzing characteristics and in-hospital outcomes. RESULTS: The cohort included 469 patients, mean age 70.8 ±â€¯10.7 years, male 331 (71%), and the majority 339 (72%) were unprotected LMS. Indications include ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 83 (18%) and NSTEMI or unstable angina 229 (49%). Compared with protected LMS, unprotected LMS were more likely to present with an acute coronary syndrome (73% versus 48%, P < 0.001), and to die in-hospital (9.4% versus 3.9%, P = 0.045). In those with unprotected LMS, in-hospital mortality after acute STEMI PCI was higher than for other indications (21.1% versus 6.1%, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of in-hospital death and major adverse cardiovascular events included STEMI, femoral access and worse renal function. CONCLUSION: Our LMS PCI cohort had high mortality rates, especially those presenting with STEMI and an unprotected LMS. This reflects the contemporary real-world practice of LMS PCI being predominantly performed in high risk patients which differs from randomized trial populations, and this should be considered before comparing with CABG outcomes.

Diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention practices in New Zealand: The All New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome-Quality Improvement CathPCI registry 3-year study (ANZACS-QI 37).

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in New Zealand (NZ) and globally. The All New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement (ANZACS-QI) programme includes the CathPCI registry which records all those referred for diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in NZ. We present the methods and three-years of data from the ANZACS-QI CathPCI registry. METHODS: The data was extracted from the ANZACS QI CathPCI registry from 01/09/2014 to 24/09/2017. The ANZACS-QI data dictionary defines all the clinical, procedural and outcomes variables collected, and standard statistical analyses were applied. RESULTS: 40,870 patients underwent cardiac catheterisation, with a mean age of 65 years, and males making up 67% of the cohort. Indications included acute coronary syndrome 55%, angina with suspected stable coronary disease 28%, valve surgery workup 8%, planned PCI 3%, heart failure/cardiomyopathy 3%, arrhythmia 1% and other 2%. For those undergoing DCA alone, radial access was used in 85% and two-thirds had at least one major artery with >50% stenosis. PCI was performed in 39% of patients. Drug-eluting stents were used in 97%. CONCLUSION: The CathPCI registry records the characteristics and outcomes of all patients undergoing DCA and PCI in NZ hospitals. As part of the ANZACS-QI programme the registry provides an important platform for quality improvement, research and to inform clinical practice.

Outcomes of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the era of second-generation drug eluting stents; five-year follow-up.

AIM: The second-generation everolimus and zotarolimus drug eluting stents (DES) have shown superiority for repeat revascularisation and safety to the first-generation devices for stable patients. However, the benefit of those devices in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has remained questionable due to concern regarding stent thrombosis (ST) seen with the first-generation devices. We review the outcomes of patients with STEMI treated in our centre at a time when the second-generation DES became the standard of care. METHODS: All patients who presented to our institution with STEMI and underwent emergency percutaneous intervention (PCI) in 2012 with second-generation DES were identified. Case notes and electronic records were reviewed. Patients undergoing staged PCI to non-culprit lesions were excluded. Patients who died during the primary cardiac event with cardiogenic shock were also excluded. RESULTS: A total of 399 patients (mean age 65+/-12, 274 (76%) male) were identified. Thirty-five patients (8.7%) died during hospitalisation with cardiogenic shock and were excluded from the subsequent analysis. A further 35 patients died during follow-up. Patients received a mean of 1.15 DES. Median follow-up time was 4.7 years. Median door to reperfusion time was 90 minutes. The all-cause mortality rate for STEMI survivors was 9.6%. Cardiac mortality rate was 3.6%. Thirty-one patients (8.5%) re-presented with symptoms leading to repeat coronary angiography. In-stent restenosis (ISR) was observed only in eight patients (2.2%). The significant factors associated with re-presentation were smoking and medication non-compliance. CONCLUSION: Early mortality rates following emergency PCI for STEMI remain high despite low reperfusion times. The five-year follow-up data would suggest that STEMI survivors have good outcomes with the second-generation DES.