Predictors of Late Reperfusion in STEMI Patients Undergoing Primary Angioplasty. Impact of the Place of First Medical Contact.

Introduction And Objectives: The benefit of primary angioplasty may be reduced if there are delays to reperfusion. Identification of the variables associated with these delays could improve health care.

Methods: Analysis of the Codi Infart registry of Catalonia and of the time to angioplasty depending on the place of first medical contact.

Results: In 3832 patients analyzed, first medical contact took place in primary care centers in 18% and in hospitals without a catheterization laboratory in 37%. Delays were longer in these 2 groups than in patients attended by the outpatient emergency medical system or by hospitals with a catheterization laboratory (P < .0001, results in median): first medical contact to reperfusion indication time was 42minutes in both (overall 35minutes); first medical contact to artery opening time was 131 and 143minutes, respectively (overall 121minutes); total ischemia time was 230 and 260minutes (overall 215minutes). First medical contact to artery opening time > 120minutes was strongly associated with first medical contact in a center without a catheterization laboratory (OR, 4.96; 95% confidence interval, 4.14-5.93), and other factors such as age, previous coronary surgery, first medical contact during evening hours, nondiagnostic electrocardiogram, and Killip class ≥ III. Mortality at 30 days and 1 year was 5.6% and 8.7% and was independently associated with age, longer delay to angioplasty, Killip class ≥ II, and first medical contact in a center with a catheterization laboratory.

Conclusions: In more than 50% of patients requiring primary angioplasty, the first medical contact occurs in centers without a catheterization laboratory, which is an important predictor of delay from diagnosis to artery opening.