Title

Early clinical outcomes and routine management of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a nationwide perspective

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Publication Date

3-17-2001

Document Type

Article

Subjects

Aged; Coronary Angiography; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Revascularization; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Prevalence; Recurrence; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; United States

Disciplines

Life Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) in the absence of electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation or new bundle branch block is the cause of hospitalization for a large and steadily increasing proportion of patients with acute ischemic chest pain. Despite its prevalence, the common demographic features, current hospital-based management, and short-term clinical outcome among patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI remain poorly defined.

METHODS: A total of 183 113 patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI were identified in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction database. Using a validated model, 43 928 patients (24.0%) were retrospectively placed in major, 34 917 (19.1%) in intermediate, and 104 268 (56.9%) in minor severity clinical event categories that included hospital death, recurrent myocardial ischemia, and nonfatal recurrent MI.

RESULTS: The administration of widely available and universally recommended pharmacologic therapies, including aspirin and beta-adrenergic blocking agents, was suboptimal, particularly among patients with major severity clinical events. In contrast, coronary angiography and mechanical revascularization procedures were commonplace (>60% of all patients) and most frequently performed in patients within the minor (compared with the major) severity clinical event category (58.2% and 42.7%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-ST-segment elevation MI are a heterogeneous population, with readily identifiable demographic characteristics and clinical features associated with important early outcomes, including death. Nationwide efforts directed toward maximizing pharmacologic therapy utilization and the performance of invasive procedures according to established guidelines must continue.

Source

Arch Intern Med. 2001 Feb 26;161(4):601-7.

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Archives of internal medicine

Related Resources

Link to article in PubMed

PubMed ID

11252122

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