Faculty Collaboration Database

Regional patterns of use of a medical management strategy for patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: insights from the EARLY ACS Trial. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2012 Mar 01;5(2):205-13

Date

03/01/2012

Pubmed ID

22373905

DOI

10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.111.962332

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84860851143 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   39 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Regional differences in the profile and prognosis of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS) patients treated with medical management after angiography remain uncertain.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Using data from the Early Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (EARLY ACS) trial, we examined regional variations in the use of an in-hospital medical management strategy in NSTE ACS patients who had significant coronary artery disease (CAD) identified during angiography, factors associated with the use of a medical management strategy, and 1-year mortality rates. Of 9406 patients, 8387 (89%) underwent angiography and had significant CAD; thereafter, 1766 (21%) were treated solely with a medical management strategy (range: 18% to 23% across 4 major geographic regions). Factors most strongly associated with a medical management strategy were negative baseline troponin values, prior coronary artery bypass grafting, lower baseline hemoglobin values, and greater number of diseased vessels; region was not a significant factor. One-year mortality was higher among patients treated with a medical management strategy compared with those who underwent revascularization (7.8% versus 3.6%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21-1.76), with no significant interaction by region (interaction probability value=0.42).

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 20% of NSTE ACS patients with significant CAD in an international trial were treated solely with an in-hospital medical management strategy after early angiography, with no regional differences in factors associated with medical management or the risk of 1-year mortality. These findings have important implications for the conduct of future clinical trials, and highlight global similarities in the profile and prognosis of medically managed NSTE ACS patients.

Author List

Roe MT, White JA, Kaul P, Tricoci P, Lokhnygina Y, Miller CD, van't Hof AW, Montalescot G, James SK, Saucedo J, Ohman EM, Pollack CV Jr, Hochman JS, Armstrong PW, Giugliano RP, Harrington RA, Van de Werf F, Califf RM, Newby LK

Author

Jorge Saucedo MD Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acute Coronary Syndrome
Aged
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Artery Bypass
Electrocardiography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex