Informed consent-patients' understanding of risk.

Aims: The central concept of informed consent is communication of the chance of a successful outcome. The risks and benefits are probabilistic concepts derived from populations; they do not map with any certainty to the individual. We tested patients' comprehension of basic probability concepts that are needed for informed consent.

Paired risk scores to predict ischaemic and bleeding risk twenty-eight days to one year after an acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The recommended duration of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) varies from 1 month to 1 year depending on the balance of risks of ischaemia and major bleeding. We designed paired ischaemic and major bleeding risk scores to inform this decision.

Methods: New Zealand (NZ) patients with ACS investigated with coronary angiography are recorded in the All NZ ACS Quality Improvement registry and linked to national health datasets.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: insights from computed tomography coronary angiography follow-up.

Methods: Patients with SCAD on invasive coronary angiography who underwent a follow-up CTCA between 2010 and 2018 at our institute were included. CTCA was reported by two cardiologists-one with knowledge of the SCAD location, and a second blinded. Assessment of dissection healing were made and optimal timing of CTCA was also calculated.

Hospitalisation during lockdown-patients' beds-eye views.

Aims: The global COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have affected the patterns of hospital presentations for non-COVID related illnesses. Apprehension and perceived risk of hospitalisation has been postulated to be a significant deterrent to presentation. This study aims to explore pandemic- and- lockdown-related concerns with regards to hospital admission from a patient's perspective.

How common are non-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnoses in patients with suspected ACS investigated with coronary angiography in New Zealand? (ANZACS-QI 58).

Background And Aims: The last two decades in New Zealand have seen increased availability of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and early invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for other high-risk acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. One metric to assess the clinical appropriateness of these invasive strategies is to examine the false-positive rate for the investigation (ie, the rate of non-ACS diagnoses).

Methods: All patients presenting to New Zealand public hospitals with suspected ACS who underwent ICA between 2015 and 2019 were recorded prospectively in the All New Zealand Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement registry.