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Aims Little is known about the association between the type of admission ward and quality of care and outcomes for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods and results We analysed data from 337 155 NSTEMI admissions between 2010 and 2017 in the UK Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) database. The cohort was dichotomised according to receipt of care either on a medical (n = 142,876) or cardiac ward, inclusive of acute cardiac wards and cardiac care unit (n = 194,279) on admission to hospital. Patients admitted to a cardiac ward were younger (median age 70 y vs. 75 y, P Conclusion Patients with NSTEMI admitted to a cardiac ward on admission were more likely to receive guideline directed management and had better clinical outcomes.

Background Published data suggest worse outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and concurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Mechanisms remain unclear. Objectives The purpose of this study was to report the demographics, angiographic findings, and in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 ACS patients and compare these with pre–COVID-19 cohorts. Methods From March 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, data from 55 international centers were entered into a prospective, COVID-ACS Registry. Patients were COVID-19 positive (or had a high index of clinical suspicion) and underwent invasive coronary angiography for suspected ACS. Outcomes were in-hospital major cardiovascular events (all-cause mortality, re–myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, unplanned revascularization, or stent thrombosis). Results were compared with national pre–COVID-19 databases (MINAP [Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project] 2019 and BCIS [British Cardiovascular Intervention Society] 2018 to 2019). Results In 144 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 121 non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients, symptom-to-admission times were significantly prolonged (COVID-STEMI vs. BCIS: median 339.0 min vs. 173.0 min; p, Central Illustration

Aims Little is known about ethnic disparities in care and clinical outcomes of patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in national cohorts from universal healthcare systems derived from Europe. Methods and results We identified 280 588 admissions with NSTEMI in the UK Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP), 2010–2017, including White patients (n = 258 364) and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) patients (n = 22 194). BAME patients were younger (66 years vs. 73 years, P Conclusion BAME patients with NSTEMI had higher cardiometabolic risk profiles and were more likely to undergo invasive angiography and revascularization, with similar clinical outcomes as those of their White counterparts. Among the quality indicators assessed, there is no evidence of care disparities among BAME patients presenting with NSTEMI.

Patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), particularly non-ST-segment elevation ACS, represent a spectrum of patients at variable risk of short- and long-term adverse clinical outcomes. Accurate prognostic assessment in this population requires the simultaneous consideration of multiple clinical and laboratory variables which may be under-recognized by the treating physicians, leading to an observed risk-treatment paradox in the use of invasive and pharmacological therapies. The routine application of established clinical risk scores, such as the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk score, is recommended by major international clinical practice guidelines for structured risk stratification at the time of presentation, but uptake remains inconsistent. This article discusses the methodology of designing, deriving, and validating clinical risk scores, reviews the major validated risk scores for assessing prognosis in ACS, and examines their role in guiding clinical decision-making in ACS management, especially the timing of invasive coronary angiography. We also discuss emerging data on the impact of the routine use of such risk scores on patient management and clinical outcomes, as well as future directions for investigation in this field.

Aims We estimated the 2020 European Society of Cardiology-Acute Cardio Vascular Care (ESC-ACVC) quality indicators (QI) for the management of acute myocardial infarction, from three existing registries to determine the feasibility of assessment, room for improvement, association with outcomes, and suitability for centre benchmarking. Methods and results Data were extracted from three French nationwide registries, namely FAST-MI 2005, 2010, and 2015. Feasibility of assessment and room for improvement were estimated by the denominator (patients in whom QI could be measured) and numerator (patients who satisfied the QI, among those eligible). Associations between composite QIs (CQIs) and mortality were assessed by multivariate analysis. Centre benchmarking was based on the centres mean CQI, vs. the national mean. The 2020 QIs were measured in 12 660/13 130 patients from FAST-MI. Measurement feasibility ranged from 15% to 100% with greater potential for implementation with the 2020 QI set. The mean (±SD) value of the opportunity-based CQI was 0.72 ± 0.01 and attainment of the all-or-none CQI 8.5%. Both CQIs were associated with adjusted 1-year mortality. Centre categorization into low, intermediate, and high quality was feasible, and distinguished centres with differing mortality. Conclusion Most of the 2020 QI can be measured from existing registries in all domains but not in the patient’s satisfaction domain. This assessment shows potential for implementation. Both CQIs were inversely associated with one-year mortality and centre benchmarking was feasible.

Background Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is common and occurs in 6–8% of all patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This paper describes the rationale behind the trial ‘Randomized Evaluation of Beta Blocker and ACE-Inhibitor/Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Treatment (ACEI/ARB) of MINOCA patients’ (MINOCA-BAT) and the need to improve the secondary preventive treatment of MINOCA patients. Methods MINOCA-BAT is a registry-based, randomized, parallel, open-label, multicenter trial with 2:2 factorial design. The primary aim is to determine whether oral beta blockade compared with no oral beta blockade, and ACEI/ARB compared with no ACEI/ARB, reduce the composite endpoint of death of any cause, readmission because of AMI, ischemic stroke or heart failure in patients discharged after MINOCA without clinical signs of heart failure and with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. A total of 3500 patients will be randomized into four groups; e.g. ACEI/ARB and beta blocker, beta blocker only, ACEI/ARB only and neither ACEI/ARB nor beta blocker, and followed for a mean of 4 years. Summary While patients with MINOCA have an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events and death, whether conventional secondary preventive therapies are beneficial has not been assessed in randomized trials. There is a limited basis for guideline recommendations in MINOCA. Furthermore, studies of routine clinical practice suggest that use of secondary prevention therapies in MINOCA varies considerably. Thus results from this trial may influence future treatment strategies and guidelines specific to MINOCA patients.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in older people and is associated with increased stroke risk that may be reduced by oral anticoagulation (OAC). Frailty also increases with increasing age, yet the extent of OAC prescription in older people according to extent of frailty in people with AF is insufficiently described. Methods An electronic health records study of 536,955 patients aged ≥65 years from ResearchOne in England (384 General Practices), over 15.4 months, last follow-up 11th April 2017. OAC prescription for AF with CHA2DS2-Vasc ≥2, adjusted (demographic and treatments) risk of all-cause mortality, and subsequent cerebrovascular disease, bleeding and falls were estimated by electronic frailty index (eFI) category of fit, mild, moderate and severe frailty. Results AF prevalence and mean CHA2DS2-Vasc for those with AF increased with increasing eFI category (fit 2.9%, 2.2; mild 11.2%, 3.2; moderate 22.2%, 4.0; and severe 31.5%, 5.0). For AF with CHA2DS2-Vasc ≥2, OAC prescription was higher for mild (53.2%), moderate (55.6%) and severe (53.4%) eFI categories than fit (41.7%). In those with AF and eligible for OAC, frailty was associated with increased risk of death (HR for severe frailty compared with fit 4.09, 95% confidence interval 3.43–4.89), gastrointestinal bleeding (2.17, 1.45–3.25), falls (8.03, 4.60–14.03) and, among women, stroke (3.63, 1.10–12.02). Conclusion Among older people in England, AF and stroke risk increased with increasing degree of frailty; however, OAC prescription approximated 50%. Given competing demands of mortality, morbidity and stroke prevention, greater attention to stratified stroke prevention is needed for this group of the population.

Aims To investigate trends in the prescription of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antiplatelet agents for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results Prescription data for 450 518 patients with AF from 3352 General Practices in England, was obtained from the GRASP-AF registry, 2009–2018. Annualized temporal trends for OAC and antiplatelet prescription were reported according to eligibility based on stroke risk (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥1 or >2, respectively). From 2009 to 2018, the prevalence of AF increased from 1.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–1.7%] to 2.4% (2.3–2.5%), and for those with AF the proportion prescribed OAC increased from 47.6% to 75.0% (P-trend < 0.001; relative risk 1.57, 95% CI 1.55–1.60) and for antiplatelet decreased from 37.4% to 9.2% (P-trend < 0.001). In early-years (2009–2013), eligible patients aged ≥80 years were less likely to be prescribed OAC than patients aged Conclusion Between 2009 and 2018, in England, the use of OAC for stroke prophylaxis in AF increased, with DOAC accounting for over half of OAC uptake in 2018. Despite a reduction in the OAC-prescription gap, a new paradox exists relating to DOAC prescription for the elderly and those at higher risk of stroke.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend that for NSTEMI, the timing of invasive strategy (IS) is a function of patient's baseline risk. The extent to which this is delivered across and within healthcare systems is unknown. METHODS: Data were derived from 137,265 patients admitted with an NSTEMI diagnosis between 2010 and 2015 in England and Wales. Patients were stratified into low, intermediate and high-risk in keeping with international guidelines. Time to IS was categorised into early (24 h), intermediate (25-72 h) and late (>72 h). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of guidelines recommended receipt of IS. RESULTS: There were 3608 (2.6%) low, 5037 (3.7%) intermediate and 128,621 (93.7%) high-risk patients. Guidelines recommended use of IS was significantly lower in high-risk (16.4%) compared to intermediate (64.7%) and low-risk (62.5%) groups. Both men and women in the low-risk category were almost twice as likely to receive early IS compared to high-risk men (28.9% vs 17%, p

Background: The Second Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI-II) risk score is recommended by guidelines to identify low-risk patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) for an early discharge strategy. Aims: We aimed to assess the safety of early discharge (≤2 days) for low-risk STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: Using nationwide data from the SWEDEHEART registry, we identified patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI during the period 2009-2017, of whom 8,092 (26.4%) were identified as low risk with the PAMI-II score. Low-risk patients were stratified according to their length of hospital stay (≤2 days vs >2 days). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, including death, reinfarction treated with PCI, stroke or heart failure hospitalisation) at one year, assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model with propensity score as well as an inverse probability weighting propensity score of average treatment effect to adjust for confounders. Results: A total of 1,449 (17.9%) patients were discharged ≤2 days from admission. After adjustment, the one-year MACE rate was not higher for patients discharged at >2 days from admission than for patients discharged ≤2 days (4.3% vs 3.2%; adjusted HR 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-1.87, p=0.14), and no difference was observed regarding any of the individual components of the main outcome. Results were consistent across all subgroups with no difference in MACE between early and late discharge patients. Conclusions: Nationwide observational data suggest that early discharge of low-risk patients with STEMI treated with PCI is not associated with an increase in one-year MACE.

Introduction: The use of digitalis has been plagued by controversy since its initial use. Previous observations have shown that digoxin can be safely used in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), but concern remains about the effects of digoxin on mortality in patients with incident HF in the acute setting, especially in those with myocardial infarction. Hypothesis: We aimed to determine the relationship between digoxin use and outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) complicated by HF accounting for sex difference and prior heart diseases. Methods: We analyzed information on 88,774 patients presenting with acute HF (Killip class ≥2) in the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ISACS)-Archives (NCT04008173) registry, 4,722 (18.7%) who received digoxin on hospital admission. Patients with pre-existing nonischemic congestive cardiomyopathy and without HF were excluded, leaving a final study population of 25,187 patients. The main outcome measure was all-cause 30-day mortality. Estimates were evaluated by inverse probability of treatment weighting models. Results: Women who received digoxin had a higher rate of death than women who did not receive it (33.8% vs. 29.2 %; relative risk [RR] ratio:1.24;95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.37). Similar odds for mortality with digoxin were observed in men (28.5 % vs. 24.9 %; RR ratio 1.20; 95% CI:1.10-1.32). Comparable results were obtained in patients with no prior coronary heart disease (RR ratios:1.26; 95 % CI: 1.10 to 1.45 in women and RR:1.21; 95 % CI: 1.06 to 1.39 in men) and those in sinus rhythm at admission (RR ratios:1.34; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.54 in women and 1.26; 95% CI 1.10 to 1.45 in men). Conclusions: Digoxin therapy is associated with an increased risk of early death among women and men with ACS complicated by HF. This finding highlights the need for re-examination of digoxin use in the clinical setting of ACS

OBJECTIVES: To provide estimates for how different treatment pathways for the management of severe aortic stenosis (AS) may affect National Health Service (NHS) England waiting list duration and associated mortality. DESIGN: We constructed a mathematical model of the excess waiting list and found the closed-form analytic solution to that model. From published data, we calculated estimates for how the strategies listed under Interventions may affect the time to clear the backlog of patients waiting for treatment and the associated waiting list mortality. SETTING: The NHS in England. PARTICIPANTS: Estimated patients with AS in England. INTERVENTIONS: (1) Increasing the capacity for the treatment of severe AS, (2) converting proportions of cases from surgery to transcatheter aortic valve implantation and (3) a combination of these two. RESULTS: In a capacitated system, clearing the backlog by returning to pre-COVID-19 capacity is not possible. A conversion rate of 50% would clear the backlog within 666 (533-848) days with 1419 (597-2189) deaths while waiting during this time. A 20% capacity increase would require 535 (434-666) days, with an associated mortality of 1172 (466-1859). A combination of converting 40% cases and increasing capacity by 20% would clear the backlog within a year (343 (281-410) days) with 784 (292-1324) deaths while awaiting treatment. CONCLUSION: A strategy change to the management of severe AS is required to reduce the NHS backlog and waiting list deaths during the post-COVID-19 'recovery' period. However, plausible adaptations will still incur a substantial wait to treatment and many hundreds dying while waiting., BG is supported by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Bristol and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. JHFR is part-supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, the British Heart Foundation, HEFCE, the EPSRC Cambridge Centre for Mathematics of Information in Healthcare and the Wellcome Trust.

IntroductionAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cardiovascular health problem: it is common, chronic and incurs substantial healthcare expenditure because of stroke. Oral anticoagulation reduces the risk of thromboembolic stroke in those at higher risk; but for a number of patients, stroke is the first manifestation of undetected AF. There is a rationale for the early diagnosis of AF, before the first complication occurs, but population-based screening is not recommended. Previous prediction models have been limited by their data sources and methodologies. An accurate model that uses existing routinely collected data is needed to inform clinicians of patient-level risk of AF, inform national screening policy and highlight predictors that may be amenable to primary prevention.Methods and analysisWe will investigate the application of a range of deep learning techniques, including an adapted convolutional neural network, recurrent neural network and Transformer, on routinely collected primary care data to create a personalised model predicting the risk of new-onset AF over a range of time periods. The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)-GOLD dataset will be used for derivation, and the CPRD-AURUM dataset will be used for external geographical validation. Both comprise a sizeable representative population and are linked at patient-level to secondary care databases. The performance of the deep learning models will be compared against classic machine learning and traditional statistical predictive modelling methods. We will only use risk factors accessible in primary care and endow the model with the ability to update risk prediction as it is presented with new data, to make the model more useful in clinical practice.Ethics and disseminationPermissions for CPRD-GOLD and CPRD-AURUM datasets were obtained from CPRD (ref no: 19_076). The CPRD ethical approval committee approved the study. The results will be submitted as a research paper for publication to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at peer-reviewed conferences.Trial registration detailsA systematic review to incorporate within the overall project was registered on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021245093). The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04657900).

BACKGROUND: Excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with those expected from historical trends have been unequally distributed, both geographically and socioeconomically. Not all excess deaths have been directly related to COVID-19 infection. We investigated geographical and socioeconomic patterns in excess deaths for major groups of underlying causes during the pandemic.METHODS: Weekly mortality data from 27/12/2014 to 2/10/2020 for England and Wales were obtained from the Office of National Statistics. Negative binomial regressions were used to model death counts based on pre-pandemic trends for deaths caused directly by COVID-19 (and other respiratory causes) and those caused indirectly by it (cardiovascular disease or diabetes, cancers, and all other indirect causes) over the first 30 weeks of the pandemic (7/3/2020-2/10/2020).FINDINGS: There were 62,321 (95% CI: 58,849 to 65,793) excess deaths in England and Wales in the first 30 weeks of the pandemic. Of these, 46,221 (95% CI: 45,439 to 47,003) were attributable to respiratory causes, including COVID-19, and 16,100 (95% CI: 13,410 to 18,790) to other causes. Rates of all-cause excess mortality ranged from 78 per 100,000 in the South West of England and in Wales to 130 per 100,000 in the West Midlands; and from 93 per 100,000 in the most affluent fifth of areas to 124 per 100,000 in the most deprived. The most deprived areas had the highest rates of death attributable to COVID-19 and other indirect deaths, but there was no socioeconomic gradient for excess deaths from cardiovascular disease/diabetes and cancer.INTERPRETATION: During the first 30 weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic there was significant geographic and socioeconomic variation in excess deaths for respiratory causes, but not for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Pandemic recovery plans, including vaccination programmes, should take account of individual characteristics including health, socioeconomic status and place of residence.FUNDING: None.

ObjectiveAtrial fibrillation (AF) is common and is associated with an increased risk of stroke. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse multivariable prediction models derived and/or validated in electronic health records (EHRs) and/or administrative claims databases for the prediction of incident AF in the community.MethodsOvid Medline and Ovid Embase were searched for records from inception to 23 March 2021. Measures of discrimination were extracted and pooled by Bayesian meta-analysis, with heterogeneity assessed through a 95% prediction interval (PI). Risk of bias was assessed using Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool and certainty in effect estimates by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation.ResultsEleven studies met inclusion criteria, describing nine prediction models, with four eligible for meta-analysis including 9 289 959 patients. The CHADS (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age>75, Diabetes mellitus, prior Stroke or transient ischemic attack) (summary c-statistic 0.674; 95% CI 0.610 to 0.732; 95% PI 0.526–0.815), CHA2DS2-VASc (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age>75 (2 points), Stroke/transient ischemic attack/thromboembolism (2 points), Vascular disease, Age 65–74, Sex category) (summary c-statistic 0.679; 95% CI 0.620 to 0.736; 95% PI 0.531–0.811) and HATCH (Hypertension, Age, stroke or Transient ischemic attack, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Heart failure) (summary c-statistic 0.669; 95% CI 0.600 to 0.732; 95% PI 0.513–0.803) models resulted in a c-statistic with a statistically significant 95% PI and moderate discriminative performance. No model met eligibility for inclusion in meta-analysis if studies at high risk of bias were excluded and certainty of effect estimates was ‘low’. Models derived by machine learning demonstrated strong discriminative performance, but lacked rigorous external validation.ConclusionsModels externally validated for prediction of incident AF in community-based EHR demonstrate moderate predictive ability and high risk of bias. Novel methods may provide stronger discriminative performance.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42021245093.

IntroductionSudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and can be prevented by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Currently, risk stratification for SCD and decision on ICD implantation are based solely on impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, this strategy leads to over- and under-treatment of patients because LVEF alone is insufficient for accurate assessment of prognosis. Thus, there is a need for better risk stratification. This is the study protocol for developing and validating a prediction model for risk of SCD in patients with prior MI.Methods and AnalysisThe EU funded PROFID project will analyse 23 datasets from Europe, Israel and the US (∼225,000 observations). The datasets include patients with prior MI or ischemic cardiomyopathy with reduced LVEFEthics and disseminationLocal ethical approval was obtained. The final model will be disseminated through scientific publications and a web-calculator. Statistical code will be published through open-source repositories.

BACKGROUND: Patients with underlying cardiovascular disease and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to characterize the presenting profile and outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and COVID‐19 infection. METHODS: This observational cohort study was conducted using multisource data from all acute NHS hospitals in England. All consecutive patients hospitalized with diagnosis of ACS with or without COVID‐19 infection between 1 March and 31 May 2020 were included. The primary outcome was in‐hospital and 30‐day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 12 958 patients were hospitalized with ACS during the study period, of which 517 (4.0%) were COVID‐19‐positive and were more likely to present with non‐ST‐elevation acute myocardial infarction. The COVID‐19 ACS group were generally older, Black Asian and Minority ethnicity, more comorbid and had unfavourable presenting clinical characteristics such as elevated cardiac troponin, pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic shock and poor left ventricular systolic function compared with the non‐COVID‐19 ACS group. They were less likely to receive an invasive coronary angiography (67.7% vs 81.0%), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (30.2% vs 53.9%) and dual antiplatelet medication (76.3% vs 88.0%). After adjusting for all the baseline differences, patients with COVID‐19 ACS had higher in‐hospital (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.41–4.42) and 30‐day mortality (aOR: 6.53; 95% CI: 5.1–8.36) compared to patients with the non‐COVID‐19 ACS. CONCLUSION: COVID‐19 infection was present in 4% of patients hospitalized with an ACS in England and is associated with lower rates of guideline‐recommended treatment and significant mortality hazard.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist as they share multiple risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. Although there is irrefutable evidence supporting anticoagulation in AF in the general population, these data may not be transferable to the setting of advanced CKD, where the decision to commence anticoagulation poses a conundrum. In this cohort, there is a progressively increased risk of both ischemic stroke and hemorrhage as renal function declines, complicating the decision to initiate anticoagulation. No definitive clinical guidelines derived from randomized controlled trials exist to aid clinical decision-making, and the findings from observational studies are conflicting. In this review, the authors outline the pathophysiological mechanisms at play and summarize the limited existing data related to anticoagulation in those with concomitant CKD and AF. Finally, the authors suggest how to approach the decision of whether and how to use oral anticoagulation in these patients.

Aims To compare ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) mortality between Sweden and the UK, adjusting for background population rates of expected death, case mix, and treatments. Methods and results National data were collected from hospitals in Sweden [n = 73 hospitals, 180 368 patients, Swedish Web-system for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-based care in Heart disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies (SWEDEHEART)] and the UK [n = 247, 662 529 patients, Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP)] between 2003 and 2013. There were lower rates of revascularization [STEMI (43.8% vs. 74.9%); NSTEMI (27.5% vs. 43.6%)] and pharmacotherapies at time of hospital discharge including [aspirin (82.9% vs. 90.2%) and (79.9% vs. 88.0%), β-blockers (73.4% vs. 86.4%) and (65.3% vs. 85.1%)] in the UK compared with Sweden, respectively. Standardized net probability of death (NPD) between admission and 1 month was higher in the UK for STEMI [8.0 (95% confidence interval 7.4–8.5) vs. 6.7 (6.5–6.9)] and NSTEMI [6.8 (6.4–7.2) vs. 4.9 (4.7–5.0)]. Between 6 months and 1 year and more than 1 year, NPD remained higher in the UK for NSTEMI [2.9 (2.5–3.3) vs. 2.3 (2.2–2.5)] and [21.4 (20.0–22.8) vs. 18.3 (17.6–19.0)], but was similar for STEMI [0.7 (0.4–1.0) vs. 0.9 (0.7–1.0)] and [8.4 (6.7–10.1) vs. 8.3 (7.5–9.1)]. Conclusion Short-term mortality following STEMI and NSTEMI was higher in the UK compared with Sweden. Mid- and longer-term mortality remained higher in the UK for NSTEMI but was similar for STEMI. Differences in mortality may be due to differential use of guideline-indicated treatments.

Aim: To study the association between time of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results: Patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) across 243 hospitals in England and Wales between 1st January 2004 and 31st March 2013 were included. The outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. Adjusted odds ratios for in-hospital mortality were estimated across six four-hourly time periods over the 24-hour clock using multilevel logistic regression, inverse-probability weighting propensity score and instrumental variable analysis. Among 615,035 patients (median age 70.0 years, IQR 59.0 - 80.0 years; 406,519 (66.0%) men), there were 52,777 (8.8%) in-hospital deaths. At night, patients with NSTEMI were more frequently co-morbid, and for STEMI had longer symptom-onset-to-reperfusion times. For STEMI, unadjusted in-hospital mortality was highest between 20:00 and 23:59 (four-hour period range 8.4% to 9.9%; OR compared with 00:00 to 03:59 reference 1.13, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.20), and for NSTEMI highest between 12:00 to 15:59 (8.0% to 8.8%; OR compared with 00:00 to 03:59 reference 1.07, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.12). However, these differences were only apparent in the earlier years of the study, and were attenuated by adjustment for demographics, co-morbidities and clinical presentation. Differences were not statistically significant after adjustment for acute clinical treatment provided. Conclusions: There is little evidence to support an association between time of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality for acute myocardial infarction; variation in in-hospital mortality may be explained by case mix and the use of treatments.

Aims We hypothesized that a decline in admissions with heart failure during COVID-19 pandemic would lead to a reciprocal rise in mortality for patients with heart failure in the community. Methods and results We used National Heart Failure Audit data to identify 36 974 adults who had a hospital admission with a primary diagnosis of heart failure between February and May in either 2018, 2019, or 2020. Hospital admissions for heart failure in 2018/19 averaged 160/day but were much lower in 2020, reaching a nadir of 64/day on 27 March 2020 [incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38–0.42]. The proportion discharged on guideline-recommended pharmacotherapies was similar in 2018/19 compared to the same period in 2020. Between 1 February–2020 and 31 May 2020, there was a 29% decrease in hospital deaths related to heart failure (IRR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.67–0.75; estimated decline of 448 deaths), a 31% increase in heart failure deaths at home (IRR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.24–1.39; estimated excess 539), and a 28% increase in heart failure deaths in care homes and hospices (IRR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.18–1.40; estimated excess 189). All-cause, inpatient death was similar in the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods [odds ratio (OR): 1.02, 95% CI: 0.94–1.10]. After hospital discharge, 30-day mortality was higher in 2020 compared to 2018/19 (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.38–1.78). Conclusion Compared with the rolling daily average in 2018/19, there was a substantial decline in admissions for heart failure but an increase in deaths from heart failure in the community. Despite similar rates of prescription of guideline-recommended therapy, mortality 30 days from discharge was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., Background: Aortic stenosis requires timely treatment with either surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aimed to investigate the indirect impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on national SAVR and TAVR activity and outcomes. Methods: The UK TAVR Registry and the National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit were used to identify all TAVR and SAVR procedures in England, between January 2017 and November 2020. The number of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR), AVR+coronary artery bypass graft surgery, AVR+other surgery, and TAVR procedures per month was calculated. Separate negative binomial regression models were fit to monthly procedural counts, with functions of time as covariates, to estimate the expected change in activity during COVID-19. Results: We included 15 142 TAVR cases, 13 357 isolated AVR cases, 8550 AVR+coronary artery bypass graft cases, and 6773 AVR+other cases. Before March 2020 (UK lockdown), monthly TAVR activity was rising, with a slight decrease in the SAVR activity during 2019. We observed a rapid and significant drop in TAVR and SAVR activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for elective cases. Cumulatively, over the period March to November 2020, we estimated an expected 4989 (95% CI, 4020–5959) cases of aortic stenosis who have not received treatment. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated a significant decrease in TAVR and SAVR activity in England following the COVID-19 outbreak. This situation should be monitored closely, to ensure that monthly activity rapidly returns to expected levels. There is potential for significant backlog in the near-to-medium term and potential for increased mortality in this population.

Background Right ventricular pacing (RVP) may cause electrical and mechanical desynchrony leading to impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We investigated the outcomes of RVP with His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) for patients requiring a de novo permanent pacemaker (PPM) for bradyarrhythmia. Methods and results Systematic review of randomized clinical trials and observational studies comparing HBP or LBP with RVP for de novo PPM implantation between 01 January 2013 and 17 November 2020 was performed. Random and fixed effects meta-analyses of the effect of pacing technology on outcomes were performed. Study outcomes included all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization (HFH), LVEF, QRS duration, lead revision, atrial fibrillation, procedure parameters, and pacing metrics. Overall, 9 studies were included (6 observational, 3 randomised). HBP compared with RVP was associated with decreased HFH (risk ratio [RR] 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49–0.94), preservation of LVEF (mean difference [MD] 0.81, 95% CI − 1.23 to 2.85 vs. − 5.72, 95% CI − 7.64 to -3.79), increased procedure duration (MD 15.17 min, 95% CI 11.30–19.04), and increased lead revisions (RR 5.83, 95% CI 2.17–15.70, p = 0.0005). LBBP compared with RVP was associated with shorter paced QRS durations (MD 5.6 ms, 95% CI − 6.4 to 17.6) vs. (51.0 ms, 95% CI 39.2–62.9) and increased procedure duration (MD 37.78 min, 95% CI 20.04–55.51). Conclusion Of the limited studies published, this meta-analysis found that HBP and LBBP were superior to RVP in maintaining physiological ventricular activation as an initial pacing strategy.

Background Multimorbidity is prevalent for people with myocardial infarction (MI), yet previous studies investigated single-health conditions in isolation. We identified patterns of multimorbidity in MI survivors and their associations with changes in HRQoL. Methods In this national longitudinal cohort study, we analysed data from 9566 admissions with MI from 77 National Health Service hospitals in England between 2011 and 2015. HRQoL was measured using EuroQol 5 dimension (EQ5D) instrument and visual analogue scale (EQVAS) at hospitalisation, 6, and 12 months following MI. Latent class analysis (LCA) of pre-existing long-term health conditions at baseline was used to identify clusters of multimorbidity and associations with changes in HRQoL quantified using mixed effects regression analysis. Results Of 9566 admissions with MI (mean age of 64.1 years [SD 11.9], 7154 [75%] men), over half (5119 [53.5%] had multimorbidities. LCA identified 3 multimorbidity clusters which were severe multimorbidity (591; 6.5%) with low HRQoL at baseline (EQVAS 59.39 and EQ5D 0.62) which did not improve significantly at 6 months (EQVAS 59.92, EQ5D 0.60); moderate multimorbidity (4301; 47.6%) with medium HRQoL at baseline (EQVAS 63.08, EQ5D 0.71) and who improved at 6 months (EQVAS 71.38, EQ5D 0.76); and mild multimorbidity (4147, 45.9%) at baseline (EQVAS 64.57, EQ5D 0.75) and improved at 6 months (EQVAS 76.39, EQ5D 0.82). Patients in the severe and moderate groups were more likely to be older, women, and presented with NSTEMI. Compared with the mild group, increased multimorbidity was associated with lower EQ-VAS scores (adjusted coefficient: −5.12 [95% CI −7.04 to −3.19] and −0.98 [−1.93 to −0.04] for severe and moderate multimorbidity, respectively. The severe class was more likely than the mild class to report problems in mobility, OR 9.62 (95% confidence interval: 6.44 to 14.36), self-care 7.87 (4.78 to 12.97), activities 2.41 (1.79 to 3.26), pain 2.04 (1.50 to 2.77), and anxiety/depression 1.97 (1.42 to 2.74). Conclusions Among MI survivors, multimorbidity clustered into three distinct patterns and was inversely associated with HRQoL. The identified multimorbidity patterns and HRQoL domains that are mostly affected may help to identify patients at risk of poor HRQoL for which clinical interventions could be beneficial to improve the HRQoL of MI survivors. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01808027 and NCT01819103

Care pathways for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were interrupted during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A new cardiac MRI study has revealed that increased total ischaemic time for patients with STEMI during major public health restrictions was associated with increased infarct size and other markers of myocardial damage.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The optimal regimen of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is challenging due to both increased bleeding and thrombotic risks in patients with CKD, particularly since these patients were under-represented in randomized controlled trials. We examined the patterns of DAPT use in ACS patients post PCI stratified by presence of CKD. METHODS AND RESULTS The multi-centre prospective Canadian Observational Antiplatelet Study (COAPT) enrolled patients with an ACS diagnosis from 43 hospitals between December 2011-May 2013. The present study is a subgroup analysis comparing type and duration of DAPT, and associated outcomes among patients with and without CKD defined as eGFR CONCLUSION Patients with CKD had a shorter DAPT duration and were less frequently prescribed potent P2Y12 inhibitors than patients without CKD. Overall, compared with patients without CKD, patients with CKD had higher rates of MACE and similar bleeding rates. However, among those prescribed more potent P2Y12 inhibitors, CKD was associated with more bleeding than those without CKD. Further studies are needed to better define the benefit/risk ratio, and establish a more tailored and evidence-based DAPT regimen for this high-risk patient group.

Background There are limited data on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on left main (LM) coronary revascularisation activity, choice of revascularisation strategy, and post‐procedural outcomes. Methods All patients with LM disease (≥50% stenosis) undergoing coronary revascularisation in England between January 1, 2017 and August 19, 2020 were included (n = 22,235), stratified by time‐period (pre‐COVID: 01/01/2017–29/2/2020; COVID: 1/3/2020–19/8/2020) and revascularisation strategy (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) vs. coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Logistic regression models were performed to examine odds ratio (OR) of 1) receipt of CABG (vs. PCI) and 2) in‐hospital and 30‐day postprocedural mortality, in the COVID‐19 period (vs. pre‐COVID). Results There was a decline of 1,354 LM revascularisation procedures between March 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 compared with previous years' (2017–2019) averages (−48.8%). An increased utilization of PCI over CABG was observed in the COVID period (receipt of CABG vs. PCI: OR 0.46 [0.39, 0.53] compared with 2017), consistent across all age groups. No difference in adjusted in‐hospital or 30‐day mortality was observed between pre‐COVID and COVID periods for both PCI (odds ratio (OR): 0.72 [0.51. 1.02] and 0.83 [0.62, 1.11], respectively) and CABG (OR 0.98 [0.45, 2.14] and 1.51 [0.77, 2.98], respectively) groups. Conclusion LM revascularisation activity has significantly declined during the COVID period, with a shift towards PCI as the preferred strategy. Postprocedural mortality within each revascularisation group was similar in the pre‐COVID and COVID periods, reflecting maintenance in quality of outcomes during the pandemic. Future measures are required to safely restore LM revascularisation activity to pre‐COVID levels.

The Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) developed the HFA Atlas to provide a contemporary description of heart failure (HF) epidemiology, resources, reimbursement of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and activities of the National Heart Failure Societies (NHFS) in ESC member countries.The HFA Atlas survey was conducted in 2018-2019 in 42 ESC countries. The quality and completeness of source data varied across countries. The median incidence of HF was 3.20 [interquartile range (IQR) 2.66-4.17] cases per 1000 person-years, ranging from ≤2 in Italy and Denmark to6 in Germany. The median HF prevalence was 17.20 (IQR 14.30-21) cases per 1000 people, ranging from ≤12 in Greece and Spain to30 in Lithuania and Germany. The median number of HF hospitalizations was 2671 (IQR 1771-4317) per million people annually, ranging from1000 in Latvia and North Macedonia to6000 in Romania, Germany and Norway. The median length of hospital stay for an admission with HF was 8.50 (IQR 7.38-10) days. Diagnostic and management resources for HF varied, with high-income ESC member countries having substantially more resources compared with middle-income countries. The median number of hospitals with dedicated HF centres was 1.16 (IQR 0.51-2.97) per million people, ranging from0.10 in Russian Federation and Ukraine to7 in Norway and Italy. Nearly all countries reported full or partial reimbursement of standard GDMT, except ivabradine and sacubitril/valsartan. Almost all countries reported having NHFS or working groups and nearly half had HF patient organizations.The first report from the HFA Atlas has shown considerable heterogeneity in HF disease burden, the resources available for its management and data quality across ESC member countries. The findings emphasize the need for a systematic approach to the capture of HF statistics so that inequalities and improvements in care may be quantified and addressed.

Background Although many studies have described patient-level risk factors for outcomes in heart failure (HF), health care structural determinants remain largely unexplored. This research reports patient-, hospital- and country-level characteristics associated with 1-year all-cause mortality among patients with chronic HF, and investigates geographic and hospital variation in mortality. Methods and findings We included 9,277 patients with chronic HF enrolled between May 2011 and November 2017 in the prospective cohort study European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long Term registry across 142 hospitals, located in 22 countries. Mean age of the selected outpatients was 65 years (sd 13.2) and 28% were female. The all-cause 1-year mortality rate per 100 person-years was 7.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.6–7.7), and varied between countries (median 6.8, IQR 5.6–11.2) and hospitals (median 7.8, IQR 5.2–12.4). Mortality was associated with age (incidence rate ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04), diabetes mellitus (1.37, 1.15–1.63), peripheral artery disease (1.56, 1.27–1.92), New York Heart Association class III/IV (1.91, 1.60–2.30), treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor antagonists (0.71, 0.57–0.87) and HF clinic (0.64, 0.46–0.89). No other hospital-level characteristics, and no country-level healthcare characteristics were associated with 1-year mortality, with case-mix standardised variance between countries being very low (1.83e-06) and higher for hospitals (0.372). Conclusions All-cause mortality at 1 year among outpatients with chronic HF varies between countries and hospitals, and is associated with patient characteristics and the availability of hospital HF clinics. After full adjustment for clinical, hospital and country variables, between-country variance was negligible while between-hospital variance was evident.

Background and objectiveThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of care for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is uncertain. We aimed to compare quality of AMI care in England and Wales during and before the COVID-19 pandemic using the 2020 European Society of Cardiology Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care quality indicators (QIs) for AMI.MethodsCohort study of linked data from the AMI and the percutaneous coronary intervention registries in England and Wales between 1 January 2017 and 27 May 2020 (representing 236 743 patients from 186 hospitals). At the patient level, the likelihood of attainment for each QI compared with pre COVID-19 was calculated using logistic regression. The date of the first national lockdown in England and Wales (23 March 2020) was chosen for time series comparisons.ResultsThere were 10 749 admissions with AMI after 23 March 2020. Compared with before the lockdown, patients admitted with AMI during the first wave had similar age (mean 68.0 vs 69.0 years), with no major differences in baseline characteristics (history of diabetes (25% vs 26%), renal failure (6.4% vs 6.9%), heart failure (5.8% vs 6.4%) and previous myocardial infarction (22.9% vs 23.7%)), and less frequently had high Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events risk scores (43.6% vs 48.6%). There was an improvement in attainment for 10 (62.5%) of the 16 measured QIs including a composite QI (43.8% to 45.2%, OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.10) during, compared with before, the lockdown.ConclusionDuring the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England and Wales, quality of care for AMI as measured against international standards did not worsen, but improved modestly.

Aims Quality indicators (QIs) are tools to improve the delivery of evidence-base medicine. In 2017, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care (ACVC) developed a set of QIs for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which have been evaluated at national and international levels and across different populations. However, an update of these QIs is needed in light of the accumulated experience and the changes in the supporting evidence. Methods and results The ESC methodology for the QI development was used to update the 2017 ACVC QIs. We identified key domains of AMI care, conducted a literature review, developed a list of candidate QIs, and used a modified Delphi method to select the final set of indicators. The same seven domains of AMI care identified by the 2017 Study Group were retained for this update. For each domain, main and secondary QIs were developed reflecting the essential and complementary aspects of care, respectively. Overall, 26 QIs are proposed in this document, compared to 20 in the 2017 set. New QIs are proposed in this document (e.g. the centre use of high-sensitivity troponin), some were retained or modified (e.g. the in-hospital risk assessment), and others were retired in accordance with the changes in evidence [e.g. the proportion of patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) treated with fondaparinux] and the feasibility assessments (e.g. the proportion of patients with NSTEMI whom risk assessment is performed using the GRACE and CRUSADE risk scores). Conclusion Updated QIs for the management of AMI were developed according to contemporary knowledge and accumulated experience. These QIs may be applied to evaluate and improve the quality of AMI care.

Background We aimed to study the effect of social containment mandates on ACS presentation during COVID-19 pandemic using location activity and mobility data from mobile phone map services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry (SCAAR) including all ACS presentations during the pandemic until 7 May 2020. Using a count regression model, we adjusted for day of the week, daily weather and incidence of COVID-19. Results A 10% increase in activity around areas of residence was associated with 38% lower rates of ACS hospitalizations, whereas increased activity relating to retail and recreation, grocery stores and pharmacies, workplaces and mode of mobility was associated with 10-20% higher rates of ACS hospitalizations. Conclusion Government policy regarding social containment mandates has important public health implications for medical emergencies such as ACS and may explain the decline in ACS presentations observed during COVID-19 pandemic. Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation Funding Source: Medline; Swedish Heart and Lung FoundationSwedish Heart-Lung Foundation Funding Source: Medline; Swedish Scientific Research CouncilSwedish Research Council Funding Source: Medline; ALF Funding Source: Medline; SSF (TOTAL-AMI) Funding Source: Medline; Bundy Academy Funding Source: Medline; Skane University Hospital Funds Funding Source: Medline; Marta Funding Source: Medline

ObjectiveThere are concerns that healthcare and outcomes of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated admission rates, treatment and mortality of BAME with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during COVID-19.MethodsUsing multisource national healthcare records, patients hospitalised with AMI in England during 1 February–27 May 2020 were included in the COVID-19 group, whereas patients admitted during the same period in the previous three consecutive years were included in a pre-COVID-19 group. Multilevel hierarchical regression analyses were used to quantify the changes in-hospital and 7-day mortality in BAME compared with whites.ResultsOf 73 746 patients, higher proportions of BAME patients (16.7% vs 10.1%) were hospitalised with AMI during the COVID-19 period compared with pre-COVID-19. BAME patients admitted during the COVID-19 period were younger, male and likely to present with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction. COVID-19 BAME group admitted with non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction less frequently received coronary angiography (86.1% vs 90.0%, pConclusionIn this multisource linked cohort study, compared with whites, BAME patients had proportionally higher hospitalisation rates with AMI, less frequently received guidelines indicated care and had higher early mortality during COVID-19 period compared with pre-COVID-19 period. There is a need to develop clinical pathways to achieve equity in the management of these vulnerable populations.

Importance Although international guidelines recommend use of the Global Registries of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) risk score (GRS) to guide acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treatment decisions, the prospective utility of the GRS in improving care and outcomes is unproven. Objective To assess the effect of routine GRS implementation on guideline-indicated treatments and clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with ACS. Design, Setting, and Participants Prospective cluster (hospital-level) randomized open-label blinded end point (PROBE) clinical trial using a multicenter ACS registry of acute care cardiology services. Fixed sampling of the first 10 patients within calendar month, with either ST-segment elevation or non–ST-segment elevation ACS. The study enrolled patients from June 2014 to March 2018, and data were analyzed between February 2020 and April 2020. Interventions Implementation of routine risk stratification using the GRS and guideline recommendations. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was a performance score based on receipt of early invasive treatment, discharge prescription of 4 of 5 guideline-recommended pharmacotherapies, and cardiac rehabilitation referral. Clinical outcomes included a composite of all-cause death and/or myocardial infarction (MI) within 1 year. Results This study enrolled 2318 patients from 24 hospitals and was stopped prematurely owing to futility. Of the patients enrolled, median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 56-74 years), 29.5% were women (n = 684), and 62.9% were considered high risk (n = 1433). Provision of all 3 measures among high-risk patients did not differ between the randomized arms (GRS: 424 of 717 [59.9%] vs control: 376 of 681 [55.2%]; odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI, 0.63-1.71;P = .88). The provision of early invasive treatment was increased compared with the control arm (GRS: 1042 of 1135 [91.8%] vs control: 989 of 1183 [83.6%]; OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.30-3.96;P = .004). Prescription of 4 of 5 guideline-recommended pharmacotherapies (GRS: 864 of 1135 [76.7%] vs control: 893 of 1183 [77.5%]; OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.68-1.38) and cardiac rehabilitation (GRS: 855 of 1135 [75.1%] vs control: 861 of 1183 [72.8%]; OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.32-1.44) were not different. By 12 months, GRS intervention was not associated with a significant reduction in death or MI compared with the control group (GRS: 96 of 1044 [9.2%] vs control: 146 of 1087 [13.4%]; OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.38-1.14). Conclusions and Relevance Routine GRS implementation in cardiology services with high levels of clinical care was associated with an increase in early invasive treatment but not other aspects of care. Low event rates and premature study discontinuation indicates the need for further, larger scale randomized studies. Trial Registration anzctr.org.auIdentifier:ACTRN12614000550606

Background The objective of the study was to identify any changes in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in England by analysing procedural numbers, clinical characteristics and patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.\ud \ud Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent PCI in England between January 2017 and April 2020 in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society-National Institute of Cardiovascular Outcomes Research database. Analysis was restricted to 44 hospitals that reported contemporaneous activity on PCI. Only patients with primary PCI for STEMI were included in the analysis.\ud \ud Results A total of 34 127 patients with STEMI (primary PCI 33 938, facilitated PCI 108, rescue PCI 81) were included in the study. There was a decline in the number of procedures by 43% (n=497) in April 2020 compared with the average monthly procedures between 2017 and 2019 (n=865). For all patients, the median time from symptom to hospital showed increased after the lockdown (150 (99–270) vs 135 (89–250) min, p=0.004) and a longer door-to-balloon time after the lockdown (48 (21–112) vs 37 (16–94) min, p

Introduction: In 2020, the European Society of Cardiology-Acute Cardio Vascular Care (ESC-ACVC) updated the 2017 Quality Indicators (QI) for the management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We compared 2017 vs 2020 indicators in terms of feasibility, potential for improvement, association with outcomes, and suitability for center benchmarking. Methods: Data were extracted from three French nationwide cohorts (FAST-MI 2005, 2010 and 2015), using data from AMI survivors at discharge. Applicability and potential for improvement were estimated for each QI by the denominator and numerator. The association between the composite QIs and 1 year mortality were assessed using multivariate logistic regressions. Center benchmarking was based on the mean of the opportunity-based composite QIs (CQI) and the All or None Composite QI. Results: The 2017 and 2020 QIs were measured in 12,660 /13,130 patients discharged alive, respectively. The rates of attainment ranged from 15% to 96% (Figure, left). The mean value of the Composite QI was 0.71 in 2017 versus 0.64 in 2020 (p Conclusion: Compared to the 2017 QIs, the 2020 updated QIs for AMI can be measured in existing registries, and show greater potential for improvement, a comparable association with mortality and similar suitability for center benchmarking.

Background Over 800,000 women in the UK are living with coronary heart disease, which is the main cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Marked improvements have been noted in clinical outcomes following AMI due to improved use of evidence-based treatments. However, sex differences in outcomes following AMI persist, with limited evidence in the literature concerning patient reported outcomes such as health related quality of life (HRQoL). Purpose To investigate sex differences in HRQoL following AMI. Methods Data on HRQoL among 9,566 survivors of AMI were collected from 77 National Health Service hospitals in England between 1 November 2011 and 24 June 2015. HRQoL at time of hospitalisation with an AMI as well as at 1, 6 and 12 months post discharge were collected using the self-reported EuroQol five dimension questionnaire which contains a descriptive system (EQ-5D ranging from −0.5 “worse than death” to 1 “full health”) and a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS ranging from 0 “worst imaginable health state” to 100 “best imaginable health state”). Multilevel regression modelling coupled with inverse probability weighting propensity score analysis was used to investigate longitudinal trajectories of sex differences in perceived HRQoL following AMI. Results Overall, there were 2,397 (25%) women in the study. HRQoL improved over time, however, women had a lower baseline HRQoL compared with men (EQ-VAS mean (SD) 59.8 (20.4) vs. 64.5 (20.9), and EQ-5D median (IQR) 0.73 (0.52 to 0.88) vs. 0.81 (0.62 to 1.00). Sex differences in HRQoL over time persisted, with women having a reduced HRQoL (EQ-VAS coefficient: −4.41, 95% CI: −5.16 to −3.66 and EQ-5D coefficient: −0.07, −0.08 to −0.06) and across the individual EQ-5D dimensions women were more likely to report problems with anxiety (odds ratio 2.03, 95% CI: 1.80 to 2.29), mobility (1.82, 1.58 to 2.09), self-care (1.75, 1.47 to 2.08), usual activities (1.70, 1.52 to 1.89) and pain (1.59, 1.45 to 1.75). Conclusion Although quality of life improves for AMI survivors, women have a lower baseline and worse recovery compared with men. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship

Background At least 10 million people in Europe have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). People with AF commonly have concomitant frailty, rendering them vulnerable to various adverse outcomes. Whilst appropriate prescription of oral anticoagulation (OAC) is associated with reduced risk of stroke and mortality, there are fears of iatrogenic harm in older people with frailty. Purpose Previous studies give conflicting evidence of the association between frailty and OAC prescription and are based on small samples from select cohorts. Therefore, we provide data of the association between OAC prescription and frailty for a large representative cohort of patients with AF. Methods This cross-sectional study used EHR for 536,955 patients in England aged ≥65 years on 31/12/2015. Clinical Terms Version 3 (CTV-3) codes were used to identify AF and relevant past medical history (PMH, including: cancer, varices, intracranial or gastrointestinal haemorrhage). Frailty was determined according to the validated electronic frailty index (eFI, a cumulative deficit score of 36 possible deficits), and categorised into robust (0–0.12), mild (>0.12–0.24), moderate (>0.24–0.36) or severe (>0.36) frailty. Patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥2 were considered eligible for OAC prescription. Prescription of OAC among those eligible (warfarin or direct oral anticoagulant [DOAC]) or not was established using prescribing data within the EHR. Poisson regression modelling was used to determine the odds of OAC prescription for each frailty category compared with non-frail (robust) individuals. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported with and without adjustment for sex, deprivation, PMH, concomitant prescription of medications that increase bleeding risk (including antiplatelets, steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories). Results Of the cohort, 61,177 (11.4%) had AF. Of these, 58,204 (95.1%) were eligible for OAC, which was prescribed in 30,916 (53.1%) people. Individuals prescribed OAC were on average 5 months younger than those not prescribed OAC (80.1 vs 80.5 years, p OAC was prescribed in 2,028 of 4,863 (41.7%) patients in the robust category; 10,221 of 19,198 (53.2%) with mild; 11,167 of 20,099 (55.6%) with moderate; and 7,500 of 14,044 (53.4%) with severe frailty. In comparison to the robust category, frailty was associated with higher odds of OAC prescription: mild frailty OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.5 to 1.7); moderate 1.7 (1.6 to 1.9); severe 1.6 (1.5 to 1.7). Adjustment for confounding variables increased the magnitude of the association (Figure 1). Conclusion People with AF and advancing frailty were more likely to be prescribed an anticoagulant than those with AF who are robust. Specific safety and efficacy data for OAC are needed in people with AF and frailty to better inform clinical decision-making. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): CW was funded by the Hull-York Medical School. He is now an NIHR clinical lecturer.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate changes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice in England by analyzing procedural numbers, changes in the clinical presentation, and characteristics of patients and their clinical outcomes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent PCI in England between January 2017 and April 2020 in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society database. Results: Forty-four hospitals reported PCI procedures for 126 491 patients. There were ≈700 procedures performed each week before the lockdown. After the March 23, 2020 lockdown (11th/12th week in 2020), there was a 49% fall in the number of PCI procedures after the 12th week in 2020. The decrease was greatest in PCI procedures performed for stable angina (66%), followed by non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (45%), and ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (33%). Patients after the lockdown were younger (64.5 versus 65.5 years, P P P =0.001), previous myocardial infarction (23.5% versus 26.7%, P =0.008), previous PCI (24.3% versus 28.3%, P =0.001), or previous coronary artery bypass graft (4.6% versus 7.2%, P Conclusions: The lockdown in England has resulted in a significant decline in PCI procedures. Fewer patients underwent PCI for stable angina. This enabled greater capacity for urgent and emergency cases, and a reduced length of stay was seen for such patients. Significant changes in the characteristics of patients towards a lower risk phenotype were observed, particularly for non–ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, reflecting a more conservative approach to this cohort.

Background Two thirds of patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) arrive at hospital in the UK by ambulance, usually staffed by paramedics who routinely carry out 12 lead ECGs for patients with suspected heart attack. However, recent research found that prehospital ECGs were missing for 40% of these patients, with better survival prospects in those who had received one. Purpose We are investigating reasons for non-administration of 12 lead ECG for patients diagnosed with AMI, in order to develop an intervention to improve practice. Firstly we explored whether the proportion of patients with AMI that receive a prehospital ECG has changed over time. Methods Interrogation of national UK national heart attack register (MINAP) database, extraction of data related to patients brought by ambulance by year. Results The cohort of patients diagnosed with AMI and taken to hospital by ambulance ranged from 32410 in 2005 to 60265 in 2017; the proportion with a prehospital ECG increased steadily across this period, from 51% to 78%, an average increase of 1.9% per annum. Conclusions Evidence based guidelines supporting the use of 12 lead ECG by ambulance paramedics may have contributed to improvements in care. However, 1 in 5 patients brought to hospital by ambulance still does not receive an ECG prior to arrival, which we know compromises their survival prospects. In order to optimise care we need to establish whether non-administration is a question of misdiagnosis, patient refusal or lack of availability of trained crews/equipment. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation

ObjectiveTo assess temporal clinical and budget impacts of changes in atrial fibrillation (AF)-related prescribing in England.MethodsData on AF prevalence, AF-related stroke incidence and prescribing for all National Health Service general practices, hospitals and registered patients with hospitalised AF-related stroke in England were obtained from national databases. Stroke care costs were based on published data. We compared changes in oral anticoagulation prescribing (warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)), incidence of hospitalised AF-related stroke, and associated overall and per-patient costs in the periods January 2011–June 2014 and July 2014–December 2017.ResultsBetween 2011–2014 and 2014–2017, recipients of oral anticoagulation for AF increased by 86.5% from 1 381 170 to 2 575 669. The number of patients prescribed warfarin grew by 16.1% from 1 313 544 to 1 525 674 and those taking DOACs by 1452.7% from 67 626 to 1 049 995. Prescribed items increased by 5.9% for warfarin (95% CI 2.9% to 8.9%) but by 2004.8% for DOACs (95% CI 1848.8% to 2160.7%). Oral anticoagulation prescription cost rose overall by 781.2%, from £87 313 310 to £769 444 028, (£733,466,204 with warfarin monitoring) and per patient by 50.7%, from £293 to £442, giving an incremental cost of £149. Nevertheless, as AF-related stroke incidence fell by 11.3% (95% CI −11.5% to −11.1%) from 86 467 in 2011–2014 to 76 730 in 2014–2017 with adjustment for AF prevalence, the overall per-patient cost reduced from £1129 to £840, giving an incremental per-patient saving of £289.ConclusionsDespite nearly one million additional DOAC prescriptions and substantial associated spending in the latter part of this study, the decline in AF-related stroke led to incremental savings at the national level.

Background Studies have reported significant reduction in acute myocardial infarction–related hospitalizations during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. However, whether these trends are associated with increased incidence of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in this population is unknown. Methods and Results Acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations with OHCA during the COVID‐19 period (February 1–May 14, 2020) from the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project and British Cardiovascular Intervention Society data sets were analyzed. Temporal trends were assessed using Poisson models with equivalent pre–COVID‐19 period (February 1–May 14, 2019) as reference. Acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations during COVID‐19 period were reduced by >50% (n=20 310 versus n=9325). OHCA was more prevalent during the COVID‐19 period compared with the pre–COVID‐19 period (5.6% versus 3.6%), with a 56% increase in the incidence of OHCA (incidence rate ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.39–1.74). Patients experiencing OHCA during COVID‐19 period were likely to be older, likely to be women, likely to be of Asian ethnicity, and more likely to present with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. The overall rates of invasive coronary angiography (58.4% versus 71.6%; P P =0.05) in those with ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction. The adjusted in‐hospital mortality probability increased from 27.7% in February 2020 to 35.8% in May 2020 in the COVID‐19 group ( P Conclusions In this national cohort of hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction, we observed a significant increase in incidence of OHCA during COVID‐19 period paralleled with reduced access to guideline‐recommended care and increased in‐hospital mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To address the issue of limited national data on the prevalence and distribution of underlying conditions among COVID-19 deaths between sexes and across age groups.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All adult (≥18 years) deaths recorded in England and Wales (March 1, 2020, to May 12, 2020) were analyzed retrospectively. We compared the prevalence of underlying health conditions between COVID and non-COVID-related deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of COVID-19 compared with other primary causes of death, stratified by sex and age group.RESULTS: Of 144,279 adult deaths recorded during the study period, 36,438 (25.3%) were confirmed COVID deaths. Women represented 43.2% (n=15,731) of COVID deaths compared with 51.9% (n=55,980) in non-COVID deaths. Overall, COVID deaths were younger than non-COVID deaths (82 vs 83 years). ASMR of COVID-19 was higher than all other common primary causes of death, across age groups and sexes, except for cancers in women between the ages of 30 and 79 years. A linear relationship was observed between ASMR and age among COVID-19 deaths, with persistently higher rates in men than women across all age groups. The most prevalent reported conditions were hypertension, dementia, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, and these were higher among COVID deaths. Pre-existing ischemic heart disease was similar in COVID (11.4%) and non-COVID (12%) deaths.CONCLUSION: In a nationwide analysis, COVID-19 infection was associated with higher age-standardized mortality than other primary causes of death, except cancer in women of select age groups. COVID-19 mortality was persistently higher in men and increased with advanced age.

Background Comorbidity is common and has a substantial negative impact on the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Whilst receipt of guideline-indicated treatment for AMI is associated with improved prognosis, the extent to which comorbidities influence treatment provision its efficacy is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the association between treatment provision for AMI and survival for seven common comorbidities. Methods We used data of 693,388 AMI patients recorded in the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP), 2003–2013. We investigated the association between comorbidities and receipt of optimal care for AMI (receipt of all eligible guideline-indicated treatments), and the effect of receipt of optimal care for comorbid AMI patients on long-term survival using flexible parametric survival models. Results A total of 412,809 [59.5%] patients with AMI had at least one comorbidity, including hypertension (302,388 [48.7%]), diabetes (122,228 [19.4%]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 89,221 [14.9%]), cerebrovascular disease (51,883 [8.6%]), chronic heart failure (33,813 [5.6%]), chronic renal failure (31,029 [5.0%]) and peripheral vascular disease (27,627 [4.6%]). Receipt of optimal care was associated with greatest survival benefit for patients without comorbidities (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.51–0.56) followed by patients with hypertension (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.58–0.62), diabetes (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.80–0.87), peripheral vascular disease (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.91), renal failure (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84–0.94) and COPD (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.87–0.94). For patients with heart failure and cerebrovascular disease, optimal care for AMI was not associated with improved survival. Conclusions Overall, guideline-indicated care was associated with improved long-term survival. However, this was not the case in AMI patients with concomitant heart failure or cerebrovascular disease. There is therefore a need for novel treatments to improve outcomes for AMI patients with pre-existing heart failure or cerebrovascular disease.

BackgroundPatients with underlying cardiovascular disease and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. However, there is limited information on management and outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and concomitant COVID19 infection.ObjectivesThis multisource national analysis of live data from England was designed to characterise the presenting profile and outcomes of patients hospitalized with ACS and COVID-19 infection.MethodsMultisource data from all acute NHS hospital in England was linked to study the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 ACS compared to non COVID-19 ACS patients. Hierarchical multilevel models were constructed to study the association between COVID19 ACS and in-hospital and 30-day mortality.ResultsBetween 1st March 2020 and 31st May 2020, 517 (4.0%) were admitted with COVID-19 ACS from a total of 12,958 ACS patients. COVID-19 ACS patients were generally older, BAME ethnicity, more comorbid and had unfavourable presenting characteristics compared to non-COVID-19 ACS patients. They were less likely to receive invasive coronary strategy in the form of coronary angiography (67.7% vs 81.0%), PCI (30.2% vs 53.9%), dual antiplatelet medication 76.3% vs 88.0%), and other important secondary medication. Patients with COVID-19 ACS had higher in-hospital (aOR 3.27 95%CI 2.41-4.42) and 30-day mortality (aOR 6.53 95%CI 5.1-8.36) compared to non COVID-19 ACS group.ConclusionCOVID-19 infection is prevalent but less frequent in the patients hospitalized with ACS in England. Presence of COVID-19 infection in patients with ACS is associated with significant mortality hazard.

ObjectiveTo study the association of cardiac rehabilitation and physical activity with temporal changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).MethodsEvaluation of the Methods and Management of Acute Coronary Events-3 is a nationwide longitudinal prospective cohort study of 4570 patients admitted with an AMI between 1 November 2011 and 17 September 2013. HRQoL was estimated using EuroQol 5-Dimension-3 Level Questionnaire at hospitalisation, 30 days, and 6 and 12 months following hospital discharge. The association of cardiac rehabilitation and self-reported physical activity on temporal changes in HRQoL was quantified using inverse probability of treatment weighting propensity score and multilevel regression analyses.ResultsCardiac rehabilitation attendees had higher HRQoL scores than non-attendees at 30 days (mean EuroQol 5-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) scores: 71.0 (SD 16.8) vs 68.6 (SD 19.8)), 6 months (76.0 (SD 16.4) vs 70.2 (SD 19.0)) and 12 months (76.9 (SD 16.8) vs 70.4 (SD 20.4)). Attendees who were physically active ≥150 min/week had higher HRQoL scores compared with those who only attended cardiac rehabilitation at 30 days (mean EQ-VAS scores: 79.3 (SD 14.6) vs 70.2 (SD 17.0)), 6 months (82.2 (SD 13.9) vs 74.9 (SD 16.7)) and 12 months (84.1 (SD 12.1) vs 75.6 (SD 17.0)). Cardiac rehabilitation and self-reported physical activity of ≥150 min/week were each positively associated with temporal improvements in HRQoL (coefficient: 2.12 (95% CI 0.68 to 3.55) and 4.75 (95% CI 3.16 to 6.34), respectively).ConclusionsCardiac rehabilitation was independently associated with temporal improvements in HRQoL at up to 12 months following hospitalisation, with such changes further improved in patients who were physically active.