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Aims: Besides early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) long-term medical treatment is crucial for outcomes after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The present study aimed to identify predictors of adherence to evidence-based medication in this high risk population., Methods and Results: A total of 1025 consecutive patients with adjudicated STEMI treated by primary PCI in a single centre as part of the Cologne Infarction Model (KIM) were prospectively analysed. Gender-specific multivariate predictors of long-term medication adherence were identified. Follow-up with available information on drug use was completed for 610 of 738 (82.7%) patients confirmed to be alive after a median period of 36 months. Adherence was persistently high for evidence-based medication with 90.8% for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 88.2% for statins, 87.5% for beta-blockers and 79.2% for ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). Patients with a history of heart failure had a higher medication adherence to beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors/ARBs and diuretics, whereas long-term prescription rates for calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were lower in patients with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction. Patients with a history of hypertension presented higher medication adherence to CCBs, ACE-inhibitors/ARBs and diuretics but not to beta-blockers. On multivariate analysis, age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, chronic kidney disease and lack of PCI were independently associated with prescription of diuretics at follow-up. In women, adherence was lower to beta-blockers and higher to CCBs compared to men., Conclusion: In the high risk population of STEMI patients long-term adherence to evidence-based medication is high. The lower adherence to beta-blockers and higher prescription rate for CCBs in women needs particular attention., (© The European Society of Cardiology 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

Aims: The impact of type of first medical contact (FMC) in the setting of a guideline conform metropolitan ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) network providing obligatory primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unclear. Methods and Results: 3,312 patients were prospectively included between 2006 and 2012 into a registry accompanying the “Cologne Infarction Model” STEMI network, with 68.4% primarily presenting to emergency medical service (EMS), 17.6% to non-PCI-capable hospitals, and 14.0% to PCI-capable hospitals. Median contact-to-balloon time differed significantly by FMC with 89 minutes (IQR 72–115) for EMS, 107 minutes (IQR 85–148) for non-PCI- and 65 minutes (IQR 48–91) for PCI-capable hospitals (p < 0.001). TIMI-flow grade III and in-hospital mortality were 75.7% and 10.4% in EMS, 70.3% and 8.6% in non-PCI capable hospital and 84.4% and 5.6% in PCI-capable hospital presenters, respectively (p both < 0.01). The association of FMC with in-hospital mortality was not significant after adjustment for baseline characteristics, but risk of TIMI-flow grade < III remained significantly increased in patients presenting to non-PCI capable hospitals. Conclusion: Despite differences in treatment delay by type of FMC in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly. The increased risk of TIMI-flow grade < III in patients presenting to non PCI-capable hospitals needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]