Door-to-angioplasty recommendation: the sooner, the better, study finds

Posted on 2009-06-09 13:31:05 in Cardio-Vascular | Death and Dying | Longevity | Longevity and Age Management |
 

Current quality improvement initiatives, such as the Door-to-Balloon Alliance, have been established to achieve a "hospital-door-to-angioplasty-time" of 90 minutes or less. Several hospitals have been able to successfully push beyond this benchmark and have achieved median door-to-balloon times close to 60 minutes. However, little data has existed  on whether there are incremental benefits by achieving further reductions beyond 90 minutes - until now.

The Yale University School of Medicine conducted a study to evaluate the association between door-to-balloon time and mortality in hospital in patients undergoing angioplasty, a procedure in which a catheter with a balloon is inserted into the main artery and inflated to clear the blockage. The researchers reviewed data on 43,801 acute care patients who had been hospitalized in the United States from 2005 to 2006. All of the patients had undergone angioplasty within 12 hours of having a heart attack. As the time from "hospital door to angioplasty" increased, mortality rates increased:  from 3 percent of patients dying within 30 minutes of undergoing the procedure to 4.3 percent within 90 minutes to 10.3 percent for patients with door-to-balloon time of 4 hours and 30 minutes.

The study, which was led by Saif Rathore of the Yale University School of Medicine, suggests that the new guideline for undergoing percutaenous coronary interventions - aka angioplasties - after heart attack should be "the sooner, the better." "Rather than accepting the 90 minute door-to-balloon time benchmark, our data support calls for an 'as soon as possible' standard for patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention," says the study authors, who in conclusion wrote: "Any delay in primary percutaneous coronary intervention after a patient arrives at hospital is associated with higher mortality in hospital in those admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction. Time to treatment should be as short as possible, even in centers currently providing primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 90 minutes."

News Release: Cutting angioplasty time increases odds  www.upi.com May 21, 2009

Study abstract: Association of door-to-balloon time and mortality in patients admitted to hospital with ST elevation myocardial infarction: national cohort study http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/may19_1/b1807 May 19, 2009

 

Health Headlines MORE »

Pepper Compounds for Weight Management
Capsaicin (found in hot peppers) and capsiates (present in sweet peppers) exert modest weight management benefits.
Americans Lag in Preventive Screenings
While over 20% of U.S. adults receive periodic health examinations each year, many do not receive recommended preventive screening tests and counseling services
The Stress – Obesity Connection
Researchers from Norway suggest a mechanism by which stress may make a person fat, and being obese may create stress.
Lack of Sleep Triggers Hunger
Swedish researchers report that people who are short on sleep experience greater levels of hunger.
Knock Out Anxiety
Among women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), regular physical activity helps to reduce anxiety, irritability, feelings of tension, low energy and pain.
Magnesium Helps to Reduce Stroke Risk
For every 100 mg per-day increase in magnesium in the diet, stroke risk may decline by up to 9%.
Senior Runners Continue to Excel
The best male marathon runners over age 65, and the best female marathon runners over age 45, continue to consistently improve their performance.
Stem Cell Therapy Restores Vision
UCLA-led team safely uses human embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration.
Beware the Office Air
First-of-its-kind study reports that indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances.
One in Five US Adults Afflicted with Mental Illness
Twenty percent of Americans ages 18+ experienced a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in 2010.
Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum Anti-Aging Forum
Anti-Aging textbook Anti-Aging Forum MLDP Anti-aging jobs Join A4M
ANTI-AGING TIP OF THE DAY
A Bright Future
University of Southern Denmark researchers report that more than half of the babies born today in developed countries will live to be 100, and the extended lifespan will likely come with fewer disabilities and limitations. Writing that: “If the pace of increase in life expectancy in developed countries over the past two centuries continues through the 21st century...
» MORE