Treatment Time and In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, 2018-2021

JAMA. 2022 Nov 22;328(20):2033-2040. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.20149.

Abstract

Importance: Recognizing the association between timely treatment and less myocardial injury for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), US national guidelines recommend specific treatment-time goals.

Objective: To describe these process measures and outcomes for a recent cohort of patients.

Design, setting, and participants: Cross-sectional study of a diagnosis-based registry between the second quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2021 for 114 871 patients with STEMI treated at 648 hospitals in the Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry.

Exposures: STEMI or STEMI equivalent.

Main outcomes and measures: Treatment times, in-hospital mortality, and adherence to system goals (75% treated ≤90 minutes of first medical contact if the first hospital is percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]-capable and ≤120 minutes if patients require transfer to a PCI-capable hospital).

Results: In the study population, median age was 63 (IQR, 54-72) years, 71% were men, and 29% were women. Median time from symptom onset to PCI was 148 minutes (IQR, 111-226) for patients presenting to PCI-capable hospitals by emergency medical service, 195 minutes (IQR, 127-349) for patients walking in, and 240 minutes (IQR, 166-402) for patients transferred from another hospital. Adjusted in-hospital mortality was lower for those treated within target times vs beyond time goals for patients transported via emergency medical services (first medical contact to laboratory activation ≤20 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 3.6 vs 9.2] adjusted OR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.48-0.60], and first medical contact to device ≤90 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 3.3 vs 12.1] adjusted OR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.36-0.44]), walk-in patients (hospital arrival to device ≤90 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 1.8 vs 4.7] adjusted OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.40-0.55]), and transferred patients (door-in to door-out time <30 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 2.9 vs 6.4] adjusted OR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.32-0.78], and first hospital arrival to device ≤120 minutes [in-hospital mortality, 4.3 vs 14.2] adjusted OR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.26-0.71]). Regardless of mode of presentation, system goals were not met in most quarters, with the most delayed system performance among patients requiring interhospital transfer (17% treated ≤120 minutes).

Conclusions and relevance: This study of patients with STEMI included in a US national registry provides information on changes in process and outcomes between 2018 and 2021.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Transfer
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* / adverse effects
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction* / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment