Factors that influence whether patients with acute coronary syndromes undergo cardiac catheterisation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the availability of invasive coronary angiography at the hospital of presentation influences catheterisation rates for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and whether presenting to a catheterisation-capable hospital is associated with better outcomes for patients with ACS.

DESIGN, SETTING: Retrospective cohort study; analysis of Cooperative National Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CONCORDANCE) data.

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Adults admitted with ACS to 43 Australian hospitals (including 31 catheterisation-capable hospitals), February 2009 - October 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Major adverse cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiovascular death) and all-cause deaths in hospital and by six and 12- or 24-month follow-up.

RESULTS

The proportion of women among the 5637 patients who presented to catheterisation-capable hospitals was smaller than for the 2608 patients who presented to hospitals without catheterisation facilities (28% v 33%); the proportion of patients diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction was larger (32% v 20%). The proportions of patients who underwent catheterisation (81% v 70%) or percutaneous coronary intervention (49% v 35%) were larger for those who presented to catheterisation-capable hospitals. The baseline characteristics of patients who underwent catheterisation were similar for both presentation hospital categories, as were rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause death in hospital and by 6- and 12- or 24-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a larger proportion of patients who presented to catheterisation-capable hospitals underwent catheterisation, patients with similar characteristics were selected for the procedure, independent of the hospital of presentation. Major outcomes for patients were also similar, suggesting equitable management of patients with ACS across Australia.