0000000000372720
AUTHOR
Matthias Hochadel
Guideline-adherence regarding critical time intervals in the German Chest Pain Unit registry
Background: Since 2008, the German Cardiac Society certified 256 Chest Pain Units (CPUs). Little is known about adherence to recommended performance measures in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presenting to CPUs. We investigated guideline-adherence regarding critical time intervals and selected performance measures in German Chest Pain Units. Methods: From 2008 to 2014, 23,804 consecutive patients with suspected ACS were prospectively enrolled in the Chest Pain Unit registry of the German Cardiac Society. Results: Median time from symptom onset to first medical contact was 2 h in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 4 h in patients with unstable…
Management of Pulmonary Embolism: Results from the German Chest Pain Unit Registry.
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Since 2008, specialized chest pain units (CPUs) were implemented across Germany ensuring structured diagnostics in acute chest pain. This study aims to analyze the management of pulmonary embolism (PE) patients in such certified CPUs. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data were retrieved from 13,902 patients enrolled in the German CPU registry and analyzed for the diagnosis of PE including patient characteristics, critical time intervals, diagnostic workup, treatment, and prognosis. PE patients were compared to the overall CPU patient cohort. Only patients with a complete 3-month follow-up were included. <b><i>Resu…
Invasive treatment of NSTEMI patients in German Chest Pain Units - Evidence for a treatment paradox.
Background: Patients with non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) represent the largest fraction of patients with acute coronary syndrome in German Chest Pain units. Recent evidence on early vs. selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is ambiguous with respect to effects on mortality, myocardial infarction (MI) and recurrent angina. With the present study we sought to investigate the prognostic impact of PCI and its timing in German Chest Pain Unit (CPU) NSTEMI patients. Methods and results: Data from 1549 patients whose leading diagnosis was NSTEMI were retrieved from the German CPU registry for the interval between 3/2010 and 3/2014. Follow-up was available at m…
Complication Rates of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Aged ≥75 Years versus <75 Years-Results from the German Ablation Registry
Age-Related Complication Rates in AF AblationIntroduction Despite a rising demand for catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in an elderly population, complication and success rates are not fully elucidated. We sought to compare complication rates of CA of AF in patients ≥75 versus <75 years of age. Methods and Results Patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF were prospectively enrolled from January 2007 to 2010 in this multicenter study. A total of 4,449 patients, group 1 ≥75 years and group 2 <75 years (n = 227, age 77.3 ± 2.2 vs. 59.7 ± 9.8 years, 52.0% vs. n = 4,222, 68.9% male, CHA2DS2-VASc-Score 3.7 ± 1.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.2; P < 0.001, respectively), with paroxysmal AF (59…
On versus off-hour care of patients with acute coronary syndrome and persistent ST-segment elevation in certified German chest pain units
BACKGROUND Regional healthcare projects improve the off-hour care of patients with acute coronary syndromes and persistent ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To analyse differences in quality of care between on and off-hour care of STEMI patients admitted to certified German chest pain units. METHODS A total of 1107 STEMI patients from the German chest pain unit registry were enrolled. Analyses comprised critical time intervals (symptoms to first medical contact (FMC), FMC to admission, symptoms to admission, symptoms to balloon, FMC to balloon, door to balloon times) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at follow-up. RESULTS 54.8% of patients were admitted …
Reperfusion strategy in Europe: temporal trends in performance measures for reperfusion therapy in ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Aims The rate and type of reperfusion, as well as time delays to reperfusion are directly associated with mortality and are established as performance measures (PMs) in the treatment of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). To date, little information exists about PMs for reperfusion in clinical practice in Europe and their temporal changes. Methods and results Using the Euro Heart Survey ACS-III data set (2 years of inclusions between 2006 and 2008, 138 centres in 21 countries), we selected patients with STEMI eligible for reperfusion therapy. Recorded variables corresponded to the CARDS data set. The rate and type of reperfusion, as well as door to needle and door to artery times we…
Timing of percutaneous coronary intervention in troponin-negative patients with acute coronary syndrome without persistent ST-segment elevation: preliminary results and status quo in German chest pain units.
OBJECTIVE Management of acute coronary syndromes without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP) remains challenging. The study aimed to analyze the current management of UAP patients in German chest pain units focussing on the different time lines of invasive strategy. METHODS A total of 1400 UAP patients admitted to a certified chest pain unit were enrolled. Analyses of high-risk criteria with indication for invasive management and of 3-month clinical outcomes were performed by subgrouping UAP patients to immediate and early invasive (<8 hours), early elective invasive (8-24 hours), late elective invasive (24-72 hours) strategy, and without percutaneo…
Characterization and referral patterns of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients admitted to chest pain units rather than directly to catherization laboratories : Data from the German Chest Pain Unit Registry
Abstract Background Direct transfer to the catheterization laboratory for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is standard of care for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Nevertheless, a significant number of STEMI-patients are initially treated in chest pain units (CPUs) of admitting hospitals. Thus, it is important to characterize these patients and to define why an important deviation from recommended clinical pathways occurs and in particular to quantify the impact of deviation on critical time intervals. Methods and results 1679 STEMI patients admitted to a CPU in the period from 2010 to 2015 were enrolled in the German CPU registry (8.5% of 19…
Guideline-adherence and perspectives in the acute management of unstable angina - Initial results from the German chest pain unit registry.
Abstract Background We investigated the current management of unstable angina pectoris (UAP) in certified chest pain units (CPUs) in Germany and focused on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline-adherence in the timing of invasive strategies or choice of conservative treatment options. More specifically, we analyzed differences in clinical outcome with respect to guideline-adherence. Method Prospective data from 1400 UAP patients were collected. Analyses of high-risk criteria with indication for invasive management and 3-month clinical outcome data were performed. Guideline-adherence was tested for a primarily conservative strategy as well as for percutaneous coronary interventi…
Gender Differences in Patients Admitted to a Certified German Chest Pain Unit: Results from the German Chest Pain Unit Registry.
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Gender-specific atypical clinical presentation in acute coronary syndrome and sex-specific outcomes in cardiovascular disease in women are well known. The aim of this study is to analyze possible differences between men and women presenting to certified German chest pain units (CPUs). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data from 13,900 patients derived from the German CPU registry were analyzed for gender differences in patient characteristics, cardiovascular disease manifestation, critical time intervals, treatment and prognosis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 37.8% of patients were female. Typical c…