Faculty Bibliography

While the impact of prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) on in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been described, data are limited on patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) undergoing primary PCI in the setting of an STEMI. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of previous revascularization on in-hospital outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. Between January 2004 and December 2007, a total of 1649 patients underwent primary PCI for STEMI at four New York State hospitals. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were prospectively collected as part of the New York State PCI Reporting System (PCIRS). Patients with prior surgical or percutaneous coronary revascularization were compared to those without prior coronary revascularization. Of the 1649 patients presenting with STEMI, a total of 93 (5.6%) had prior CABG, 258 (15.7%) had prior PCI, and 1298 (78.7%) had no history of prior coronary revascularization. Patients with prior CABG were significantly older and had higher rates of peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and prior stroke. Additionally, compared with those patients with a history of prior PCI as well as those without prior coronary revascularization, patients with previous CABG had more left main interventions (24% vs 2% and 2%; P<.001), but were less often treated with drug-eluting stents (47% vs 61% and 72%; P<.001). Despite a low incidence of adverse in-hospital events, prior CABG was associated with higher all-cause in-hospital mortality (6.5% vs 2.2%; P=.012), and as a result, higher overall MACE (6.5% vs 2.7%; P=.039). By multivariate analysis, prior CABG (odds ratio, 3.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-10.00) was independently associated with in-hospital mortality. In contrast, patients with prior PCI had similar rates of MACE (4.3% vs 2.7%; P=.18) and in-hospital mortality (3.1% vs 2.2%; P=.4) when compared to the de novo population. Patients with a prior history of CABG, but not prior PCI, undergoing primary PCI in the setting of STEMI have significantly worse in-hospital outcomes when compared with patients who had no prior history of coronary artery revascularization. Thus, only prior surgical - and not percutaneous - revascularization should be considered a significant risk factor in the setting of primary PCI.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:To determine effect of first medical contact type on symptom onset-to-door time (SODT). BACKGROUND:Shorter total ischemic time is associated with improved outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS:From 2005 to 2009, we reviewed records of all consecutive patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction at our tertiary care teaching hospital (median follow-up 3.85 years). We compared SODT in patients whose first medical contact was a private physician (in person or via telephone) vs patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) directly (in person or via Emergency Medical Services). RESULTS:Of 366 patients, 84 (23%) contacted a physician (group A) while 282 (77.6%) did not (group B). Group A had higher median SODT (239.5 vs 130 minutes, P = .0043) and significantly higher mortality (log rank P = .0392, Cox Proportional Hazard Model risk factors: physician contact first [P < .013], age [P < .0001] and peripheral vascular disease [P < .035]). Two factors associated with prolonged SODT: (1) contacting a physician first P = .002 and (2) personal mode of transportation, P = .002. Patients presenting during "on-hours" (weekdays) were more likely to first contact a physician compared with those presenting during "off-hours" (weeknights and weekends) (66.67% in group A vs 45.04% in group B, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS:Patients whose first medical contact was a physician had greater pre-hospital delays and worse survival compared to those who sought emergent medical care directly. This pattern occurred more often during "on-hours." Educational efforts aimed at both patient and physician office practices are warranted.

Beta-Blockers [BB] have been used extensively in the last 40 years after acute myocardial infarction [AMI] as part of therapy and in secondary prevention. The evidence for "routine" therapy with beta-blocker use post AMI rests largely on results of trials conducted over 25 years ago. However, there remains no clear recommendation regarding the appropriate duration of treatment with BBs in post AMI patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] who are not experiencing angina, or who require BB for hypertension or dysrhythmia. Based on the latest ACC/AHA guidelines, BBs are recommended for early use in the setting of AMI, except in patients who are at low risk and then indefinitely as secondary prevention after AMI. This recommendation was downgraded to class IIa in low risk patients and the updated 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines suggest that the rationale for BB for secondary prevention is from limited data derived from extrapolations of chronic angina and heart failure trials. In this review, we examine the key trials that have shaped the current guidelines and recommendations. In addition, we attempt to answer the question of the duration of BB use in patients with preserved LVEF after acute MI, as well as which subgroups of patients benefits most from post AMI use of beta blockers.

BACKGROUND:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a known prognostic indicator of poor outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease. However, it is unclear whether other predictors of mortality differ among patients with varying degrees of renal impairment. Thus, we aimed to identify determinants of in-hospital mortality which are specific to patients with preserved renal function, moderate CKD, or end stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, undergoing PCI. METHODS:The study population included 25,018 patients who underwent PCI between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007, at four New York State hospitals. The primary endpoint of the study was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS:A total of 474 (1.9%) patients had ESRD on dialysis, 6,596 (26.4%) had moderate CKD (GFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ), and 17,948 (71.7%) had preserved renal function (GFR>60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ). Patients with ESRD and moderate CKD were older, more often male, and had higher rates of prior coronary revascularization, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, prior stroke, and diabetes than those with preserved function. All-cause in-hospital mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with ESRD and moderate CKD compared to patients with GFR >60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (2.1% and 1.3%, respectively vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, ESRD (OR: 3.68, 95% CI 1.62-8.36) and moderate CKD (OR: 2.92, 95% CI 1.91-4.46) were independently associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality. Independent predictors of mortality were markedly distinct in each group and included female gender and myocardial infarction within the past 72 hr in the ESRD group, versus left ventricular ejection fraction, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, emergency PCI, and absence of prior PCI in the moderate CKD group and age, prior bypass graft surgery, congestive heart failure, emergency PCI, and absence of prior myocardial infarction in patients with preserved renal function. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with moderate CKD or ESRD undergoing PCI have an approximately threefold increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality compared with patients with preserved renal function, with radically different mortality predictors existing for varying levels of renal function.

We aimed to determine whether gender and race are independently associated with in-hospital major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and hospital length of stay in chronic dialysis patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. Whether gender or race independently influences the outcomes in patients undergoing PCI is not fully understood. The study population included 474 chronic dialysis patients who underwent PCI at 4 New York State teaching hospitals from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2007. The primary end point of the study was the composite of in-hospital MACCE, defined as all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. The secondary end points included in-hospital all-cause mortality and hospital length of stay. Of the 474 chronic dialysis patients, 172 (36.3%) were women. The women undergoing PCI were more likely to be black or Hispanic and had a greater left ventricular ejection fraction. The women had significantly greater rates of in-hospital MACCE (5.8% vs 1.7%, p=0.013) and mortality (4.7% vs 0.7%, p=0.006). No significant difference in the MACCE rates was found between the black and white patients (4.9% vs 2.2%, respectively, p=0.125), although black patients showed a trend toward greater in-hospital mortality (4.1% vs 1.2%, p=0.069). After adjustment for the baseline clinical and procedural characteristics, female gender was an independent predictor of MACCE (odds ratio 7.41, 95% confidence interval 1.81 to 30.27) and all-cause mortality (odds ratio 13.23, 95% confidence interval 1.55 to 113.25), but race was not. No significant difference in the hospital length of stay was observed by either gender or race. In conclusion, in this study, female gender was independently associated with a greater risk of MACCE and all-cause mortality in dialysis-dependent patients undergoing PCI. Although being a black woman was an independent predictor of mortality, race per se was not an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND: Timely and successful treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) requires accurate recognition by the patient of the signs and symptoms. As patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain at risk for cardiac events, it is important that they have a basic understanding of their cardiac status. METHODS: We surveyed 80 consecutive patients following elective PCI using a simple multiple-choice questionnaire. Type of stent (bare metal or drug-eluting), how they perceive the procedure would affect their cardiovascular health, their perceived risk of a future MI, and whether they recalled specific education on how to recognize symptoms of an MI were queried. RESULTS: 45% (n = 36) of patients were unaware of stent type. 10% stated PCI was performed to relieve symptoms of angina, 30% (n = 24) stated it would prevent MI, 56.3% (n = 45) stated that it would both prevent MI and reduce symptoms of angina, while 3.8% stated it would do neither. 86.3% (n = 69) stated they remained at risk for MI despite the procedure. However, 42.5% (n = 34) of patients did not perceive to have received specific education on the signs and symptoms of MI during their hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Patient understanding of stent type, expected cardiovascular outcomes, and recognition of MI post-PCI appears low in the real-world setting. A systematic approach to post-PCI education should be incorporated into routine care, in order to capitalize on the educational opportunity afforded by this high risk population.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to determine if insurance status is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS:A cohort of 13,456 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007, at 4 New York State teaching hospitals was retrospectively studied. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality from any cause. RESULTS:Of the 13,456 patients studied, 11,927 (88.6%) were insured by private carriers, 1,036 (7.7%) patients were covered by Medicaid, and 493 (3.7%) were uninsured. Uninsured and Medicaid patients tended to be younger and more often nonwhite and Hispanic. They had a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure and worse left ventricular function. Compared with privately insured patients, uninsured and Medicaid patients had increased all-cause mortality (1.2% and 0.9%, respectively, vs 0.3%; P < .001). For all patients, lack of insurance (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.10-8.28) and Medicaid (OR 4.39, 95% CI 1.93-9.99) were independently associated with mortality. Lack of insurance (OR 5.02, 95% CI 1.58-15.93) and Medicaid (OR 4.55, 95% CI 1.19-17.45) were also independently associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing emergent PCI. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Lack of insurance and Medicaid insurance are both independently associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality after PCI for coronary artery disease.