ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND - The relationship between in-hospital coronary revascularization rate (CRR) and post-discharge mortality rates in survivors of non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) at a system level is unclear.

OBJECTIVES- The purpose of this study was to evaluate CRR and 2-year post-discharge mortality rate (2YMR) in NSTE-ACS.

METHODS- CRR and 2YMR were analyzed by hospital rate of CRR (in deciles), by country, and by world region in 11,931 patients with NSTE-ACS who survived to discharge and were enrolled in the EPICOR (long-tErm follow uP of antithrombotic management patterns In acute CORonary syndrome patients) and EPICOR Asia: twin multinational, observational, prospective cohort studies.

RESULTS - Significant differences in patient baseline characteristics, medical therapies, CRR, and 2YMR were found. Mean CRR ranged from 0.0% to 96.8% in the first and tenth decile, respectively (p < 0.001); from 12.3% in Romania to 92.4% in Slovenia (p < 0.001); and from 53.9% in South East Asia (SEAsia) to 90.4% in South Korea–Singapore–Hong Kong. 2YMR varied significantly between hospital deciles of CRR (3.6% in tenth decile vs. 9.2% in first decile; p < 0.001), countries (lowest 1.5% in Slovenia, highest 19.4% in Malaysia; p < 0.001), and regions (lowest 3.8% in South Korea–Singapore–Hong Kong, highest 11.7% in SEAsia; p < 0.001). Poisson regression models, adjusted for 15 mortality predictors, showed a significant inverse association between CRR and 2YMR for hospitals (r = −0.90; p < 0.001), countries (r = −0.65; p < 0.001), and regions (r = −0.87; p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS - Higher CRRs at the hospital, country, and world region levels are strongly associated with higher post-discharge survival, suggesting CRR as a marker of higher system quality.