AIMS: To use Quality Indicators to study the management of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in different regions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective cohort study of STEMI within 24 hours of symptom onset (11,462 patients, 196 centres, 26 ESC member and 3 affiliated countries).
The median delay between arrival at a PCI centre and primary PCI was 40 min (IQR 20 to 74) with 65.8% receiving PCI within guideline recommendation of 60 min. A third of patients (33.2%) required transfer from their initial hospital to one that could perform emergency PCI for whom only 27.2% were treated within the quality indicator recommendation of 120 mins.
Radial access was used in 56.6% of all primary PCI, but with large geographic variation, from 76.4% to 9.1%. Statins were prescribed at discharge to 98.7% of patients, with little geographic variation.
Of patients with a history of heart failure or a documented LVEF <=40%, 84.0% were discharged on an ACEI/ARB and 88.7% were discharged on beta blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Care for STEMI shows wide geographic variation in the receipt of timely primary PCI, and is in contrast with the more uniform delivery of guideline-recommended pharmacotherapies at time of hospital discharge.