Novel Acute Myocardial Infarction Risk Stratification (nARS) System Reduces the Length of Hospitalization for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND

The novel Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Risk Stratification (nARS) system was recently developed based on original criteria. The use of nARS may reduce the length of hospitalization.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We allocated 560 AMI patients into the pre-nARS group (before adopting nARS) or the nARS group. Patients in the nARS group were subdivided into the low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) risk groups, whereas patients in the pre-nARS group were subdivided into the equivalent L (eL), equivalent I (eI), or equivalent H (eH) risk groups based on the nARS criteria. Length of coronary care unit (CCU) stay was significantly shorter in the nARS group (2.8±3.5 days) compared with the pre-nARS group (4.4±5.4 days; P<0.001). Length of hospital stay was also shorter in the nARS group (9.4±8.9 days) compared with the pre-nARS group (13.4±12.8 days; P<0.001). Length of CCU stay was significantly shorter in the L (1.1±1.0 days), I (2.8±3.5 days), and H (5.0±4.8 days) risk groups compared with corresponding eL (2.2±1.1 days), eI (4.4±5.4 days), and eH (7.1±7.8 days) risk groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Length of CCU and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the nARS group compared with the pre-nARS group. The use of nARS may save medical resources in the treatment of AMI in the regional health-care system.