Changes in myocardial infarction guideline adherence as a function of patient risk: An end to paradoxical care?

Apurva A. Motivala, Christopher P. Cannon, Vankeepuram S. Srinivas, David Dai, Adrian F. Hernandez, Eric D. Peterson, Deepak L. Bhatt, Gregg C. Fonarow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The goals of this analysis were to determine: 1) whether guideline-based care during hospitalization for a myocardial infarction (MI) varied as a function of patients' baseline risk; and 2) whether temporal improvements in guideline adherence occurred in all risk groups. Background: Guideline-based care of patients with MI improves outcomes, especially among those at higher risk. Previous studies suggest that this group is paradoxically less likely to receive guideline-based care (risktreatment mismatch). Methods: A total of 112,848 patients with MI were enrolled at 279 hospitals participating in Get With The GuidelinesCoronary Artery Disease (GWTGCAD) between August 2000 and December 2008. We developed and validated an in-hospital mortality model (C-statistic: 0.75) to stratify patients into risk tertiles: low (0% to 3%), intermediate (3% to 6.5%), and high (>6.5%). Use of guideline-based care and temporal trends were examined. Results: High-risk patients were significantly less likely to receive aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, diabetic treatment, smoking cessation advice, or cardiac rehabilitation referral at discharge compared with those at lower risk (all p < 0.0001). However, use of guideline-recommended therapies increased significantly in all risk groups per year (low-risk odds ratio: 1.33 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22 to 1.45]; intermediate-risk odds ratio: 1.30 [95% CI: 1.21 to 1.38]; and high-risk odds ratio: 1.30 [95% confidence interval: 1.23 to 1.37]). Also, there was a narrowing in the guideline adherence gap between low- and high-risk patients over time (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: Although adherence to guideline-based care remains paradoxically lower in those MI patients at higher risk of mortality and most likely to benefit from treatment, care is improving for eligible patients within all risk categories, and the gaps between low- and high-risk groups seem to be narrowing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1760-1765
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume58
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 18 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • guideline adherence
  • interventional
  • management
  • myocardial infarction
  • paradox
  • risk
  • trends

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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