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The results of clinical investigations for identifying the relationship between hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductate inhibitors (statins) and patient outcomes in elderly persons with acute myocardial infarction are discussed.

Studies documenting racial differences in health care use are common in the medical literature. However, observational studies of racial differences in health care use lack a framework for interpreting reports of variations in health care use, leading to various terms, ranging from 'variations' to 'bias,' that suggest different causes, consequences, and, ultimately, remedies for such variations in treatment. We propose criteria to assess racial differences in health care use by using a clinical equity (equal treatment based on equal clinical need) framework. This framework differentiates between initial reports of racial differences and subsequent classifications of their findings as racial disparities or racial bias in health care use. Racial variations in health care use may be considered disparities after demonstrating that racial differences are not attributable to treatment eligibility, clinical contraindications, patient preferences, or confounding by other clinical factors and are associated with adverse consequences. Racial bias with adverse consequences in health care may be inferred if a racial variation in treatment that has been characterized as a disparity persists after accounting for health care system factors (for example, type of hospital at which the patient was treated). We apply this framework to published reports of racial differences in treatment to determine which studies provide evidence of differences, disparities, and bias. We discuss the use of such a framework in directing policy interventions for alleviating inappropriate racial variations in health care use.

Objectives: To determine if there are sex differences in the use of coronary, revascularization in elderly patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and if sex differences vary by type of [...]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with a heavy burden of suffering. Screening for diabetes is controversial. Purpose: To examine the evidence that screening and earlier treatment are effective in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. Data Sources: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, reviews, and experts, all of which addressed key questions about screening. Study Selection: Studies that provided information about the existence and length of an asymptomatic phase of diabetes; studies that addressed the accuracy and reliability of screening tests; and randomized, controlled trials with health outcomes for various treatment strategies were selected. Data Extraction: Two reviewers abstracted relevant information using standardized abstraction forms and graded articles according to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force criteria. Data Synthesis: No randomized, controlled trial of screening for diabetes has been performed. Type 2 diabetes mellitus includes an asymptomatic preclinical phase; the length of this phase is unknown. Screening tests can detect diabetes in its preclinical phase. Over the 10 to 15 years after clinical diagnosis, tight glycemic control probably reduces the risk for blindness and end-stage renal disease, and aggressive control of hypertension, lipid therapy, and aspirin use reduce cardiovascular events. The magnitude of the benefit is larger for cardiovascular risk reduction than for tight glycemic control. The additional benefit of starting these treatments in the preclinical phase, after detection by screening, is uncertain but is probably also greater for cardiovascular risk reduction. Conclusions: The interventions that are most closely beneficial during the preclinical phase are those that affect the risk for cardiovascular disease. The magnitude of additional benefit of initiating tight glycemic control during the preclinical phase is uncertain but probably small.

Background: Many studies have found that women are less likely than men to have cardiac catheterization after an acute myocardial infarction; however, it is unknown whether sex differences reflect inappropriate treatment. Objective: To ascertain whether cardiac catheterization use after acute myocardial infarction in men and women varied by sex and the appropriateness of the procedure, as determined by clinical guidelines. Design: Retrospective analysis of chart-abstracted data. Setting: U.S. acute-care hospitals. Patients: 143 444 Medicare patients who were hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction between 1994 and 1996. Measurements: Cardiac catheterization use within 60 days of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction. Results: Women had lower crude rates of cardiac catheterization than men (35.7% for women vs. 46.5% for men [P0.2]; difference, 0.5 percentage point). Rates of cardiac catheterization use among patients with weak indications did not significantly differ between men and women (16.5% for women vs. 18.0% for men [P=0.096]; difference, 1.5 percentage points). Sex differences in cardiac catheterization use were largest for patients with equivocal indications (39.4% for women vs. 42.5% for men [P Conclusions: Among elderly persons, women have lower rates of cardiac catheterization use after an acute myocardial infarction than men. However, this difference was attenuated after multivariable adjustment, and it occurred primarily in patients with equivocal indications. We found no sex variations in procedure use among patients who had strong indications for cardiac catheterization.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the relationship between A1C and glucose therapy intensification (GTI) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--A1C was measured as [...]

The article targets the need for older patients to be included in heart attack medical care quality measurements, as they are currently an under-represented patient group.

Background: A paced rhythm can mask the electrocardiographic features of an acute myocardial infarction, complicating timely recognition and treatment. Objective: To evaluate characteristics, treatment, and outcomes among patients presenting with paced rhythms during myocardial infarction. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: U.S. acute care hospitals. Patients: 102 249 Medicare beneficiaries at least 65 years of age who were treated for acute myocardial infarction between 1994 and 1996. Measurements: Provision of three treatments for acute myocardial infarction (emergent reperfusion, aspirin, and [Beta]-blockers), death at 30 days, and long-term follow-up. Results: 1954 patients (1.9%) presented with paced rhythms during myocardial infarction. These patients were older; were predominantly male; and had higher rates of congestive heart failure, diabetes, and previous infarction. They were significantly less likely to receive emergent reperfusion (relative risk [RR], 0.27 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.33]), aspirin (RR at admission, 0.91 [CI, 0.88 to 0.94]; RR at discharge, 0.87 [CI, 0.83 to 0.92]), and [Beta]-blockers at admission (RR, 0.89 [CI, 0.82 to 0.96]). In addition, there was a trend toward decreased use of [Beta]-blockers at discharge (RR, 0.91 [CI, 0.76 to 1.06]). Crude mortality rates were higher among patients with paced rhythms than among those without at 30 days (25.8% vs. 21.3%; P = 0.001) and at 1 year (47.1% vs. 36.1%; P = 0.001). Among patients with paced rhythms, risk for death at 30 days decreased after adjustment for illness severity and decreased use of therapy (RR, 1.03 [CI, 0.93 to 1.14]). Patients with paced rhythms remained at additional risk for long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 1.12 [CI, 1.06 to 1.18]). Conclusions: Patients with paced rhythms were less likely than those without to receive treatment for acute myocardial infarction and had poorer short- and long-term outcomes. However, this mortality risk diminished after adjustment for treatment. This suggests that improved recognition and treatment of myocardial infarction may improve outcomes, particularly in the short term. Ann Intern Med. 2001;134:644-651. www.annals.org

Background: Some physicians may resort to deception to secure third-party payer approval for patient procedures. Related physician attitudes, including willingness to use deception, are not well understood. Objective: To determine physician willingness to deceive a third-party payer and physician attitudes toward deception of third-party payers. Methods: A cross-sectional mailed survey was used to evaluate physician willingness to use deception in 6 vignettes of varying clinical severity: coronary bypass surgery, arterial revascularization, intravenous pain medication and nutrition, screening mammography, emergent psychiatric referral, and cosmetic rhinoplasty. We evaluated 169 board-certified internists randomly selected from 4 high- and 4 low-managed care penetration metropolitan markets nationwide for willingness to use deception in each vignette. Results: Physicians were willing to use deception in the coronary bypass surgery (57.7%), arterial revascularization (56.2%), intravenous pain medication and nutrition (47.5%), screening mammography (34.8%), and emergent psychiatric referral (32.1%) vignettes. There was little willingness to use deception for cosmetic rhinoplasty (2.5%). Rates were highest for physicians practicing in predominantly managed care markets, for clinically severe vignettes, and for physicians spending less time in clinical practice. Physician ratings of the justifiability of deception varied by perspective and vignette. Conclusions: Many physicians sanction the use of deception to secure third-party payers' approval of medically indicated care. Such deception may reflect a tension between the traditional ethic of patient advocacy and the new ethic of cost control that restricts patient and physician choice in the use of limited resources. Arch Intern Med. 1999; 159:2263-22 70

IMPORTANCE It is unknown whether hospital transfer rates for patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to nonprocedure hospitals (facilities that do not provide catheterization) vary and whether these rates further influence revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality. OBJECTIVES To examine hospital differences in transfer rates for elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction across nonprocedure hospitals and to determine whether these rates are associated with revascularization rates, length of stay, and mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We used Medicare claims data from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2008, to assess transfer rates in nonprocedure hospitals, stratified according to transfer rates as low (≤20%), mid-low (>20%-30%), mid-high (>30%-40%), or high (>40%). Data were analyzed for 55 962 Medicare fee-for-service patients admitted to 901 nonprocedure US hospitals with more than 25 admissions per year for acute myocardial infarction. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES We compared rates of catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery during hospitalization and within 60 days, as well as hospital total length of stay, across groups. We measured risk-standardized mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS The median transfer rate was 29.4% (interquartile range [25th-75th percentile], 21.8%-37.8%). Higher transfer rates were associated with higher rates of catheterization (P < .001), percutaneous coronary intervention (P < .001), and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (P < .001). Median length of stay was not meaningfully different across the groups. There was no meaningful evidence of associations between transfer rates and risk-standardized mortality at 30 days (mean [SD], 22.3% [2.6%], 22.1% [2.3%], 22.3% [2.4%], and 21.7% [2.1%], respectively; P = .054) or 1 year (43.9% [2.3%], 43.6% [2.2%], 43.5% [2.4%], and 42.8% [2.2%], respectively; P < .001) for low, mid-low, mid-high, and high transfer groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Nonprocedure hospitals vary substantially in their use of the transfer process for elderly patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. High-transfer hospitals had greater use of invasive cardiac procedures after admission compared with low-transfer hospitals. However, higher transfer rates were not associated with a significantly lower risk-standardized mortality rate at 30 days. Moreover, at 1 year there was only a 1.1% difference (42.8% vs 43.9%) between hospitals with higher and lower transfer rates. These findings suggest that, as a single intervention, promoting the transfer of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction may not improve hospital outcomes.

Despite receiving identical reimbursement for treating heart disease patients with bare metal stents (BMS) or drug-eluting coronary stents (DES), cardiologists’ use of the new technology (DES) may have varied by patient payer type as DES diffused. Payer-related factors that differ between hospitals andor differential treatment inside hospitals might explain any overall differences by payer type.

Intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP) frequently are used to provide hemodynamic support during high risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but clinical evidence to support their use is mixed. We examined hospital variation in IABP use among high risk PCI patients, and determined the association of IABP use on mortality in this population.

Anemia is common among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and is associated with poor outcomes. Less is known about the incidence, correlates, and prognostic implications of acute, hospital-acquired anemia (HAA).

The rankings of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S.News & World Reportare influential, but the performance of ranked hospitals in caring for patients with routine cardiac conditions such as heart failure is not known.

Studies have suggested that cardiologists may provide higher quality heart failure care than generalists. However, national rates of specialty care during hospitalization for heart failure and factors associated with care by a cardiologist are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

Background/ObjectiveOur purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of reperfusion therapy among elderly paced patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Current guidelines make no recommendation for the use of reperfusion therapy among patients who have a paced rhythm during MI. MethodsWe evaluated 1954 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older treated for acute MI between 1994 and 1996 who had a paced rhythm for use of reperfusion therapy. Use of reperfusion therapy was evaluated for associations with outcomes by logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models incorporating propensity score analysis. ResultsReperfusion therapy was used in 171 (8.8%) patients; 70 were treated with primary PTCA and 101 with thrombolytic therapy. Patients who received reperfusion therapy had 30-day mortality rates similar to those who did not receive reperfusion (26.3% vs 25.7%, P=.87). Multivariate adjustment for mortality risk factors and treatment propensity indicated no survival benefit associated with reperfusion therapy at 30 days (relative risk [RR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77-1.43) or long-term follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] 0.86, 95% CI 0.68-1.10). Mortality risks varied by type of reperfusion therapy. Patients treated with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were at comparable risk of mortality at 30 days (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.40-1.23) but at lower risk at long-term follow-up (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.88). Mortality risks were unchanged among patients treated with thrombolytics at 30 days (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.92-1.79) and long-term follow-up (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.82-1.43). ConclusionWe find suggestive evidence that primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty provides a long-term survival benefit in the treatment of elderly patients with acute MI who have a paced rhythm. (Am Heart J 2001; 142:516-9.)

To evaluate racial variation in the frequency of intrapartum hemorrhage.

Background:Previous studies have described an “obesity paradox” with heart failure, whereby overweight and obese body mass index (BMI) have been associated with lower mortality. However, little is known about the impact of obesity on survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

BACKGROUNDHemoglobin A1c(A1C) assessment is recommended for hospitalized patients (pts) with diabetes (DM). Whether in-hospital A1C levels are associated with glucose therapy intensification (GTI) after MI is unknown.

Background:While the association between chronic anemia and poor prognosis after AMI is well established, some patients develop new anemia during hospitalization. This hospital-acquired anemia (HAA) often occurs in the absence of bleeding, and is potentially preventable, but whether it has implications for mortality and health status after AMI is unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between door-to-balloon time and mortality in hospital in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST elevation myocardial infarction to assess the incremental mortality benefit of reductions in door-to-balloon times of less than 90 minutes. Design Prospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry, 2005-6. Setting Acute care hospitals. Participants 43 801 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mortality in hospital. RESULTS: Median door-to-balloon time was 83 minutes (interquartile range 6-109, 57.9% treated within 90 minutes). Overall mortality in hospital was 4.6%. Multivariable logistic regression models with fractional polynomial models indicated that longer door-to-balloon times were associated with a higher adjusted risk of mortality in hospital in a continuous non-linear fashion (30 minutes=3.0%, 60 minutes=3.5%, 90 minutes=4.3%, 120 minutes=5.6%, 150 minutes=7.0%, 180 minutes=8.4%, P<0.001). A reduction in door-to-balloon time from 90 minutes to 60 minutes was associated with 0.8% lower mortality, and a reduction from 60 minutes to 30 minutes with a 0.5% lower mortality. CONCLUSION: 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 centres currently providing primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 90 minutes.