Impact of Delay to Angioplasty in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Undergoing Invasive Management

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the impact of delay to angioplasty in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Background There is a paucity of data on the impact of delays to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) undergoing an invasive management strategy. Methods Patients undergoing PCI in the ACUITY (Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage strategY) trial were stratified according to timing of PCI after clinical presentation for outcome analysis. Results Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed in 7,749 patients (median age 63 years; 73% male) with NSTE-ACS at a median of 19.5 h after presentation ( 24 h [n = 2,812]). Delay to PCI >24 h after clinical presentation was significantly associated with increased 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and composite ischemia (death, MI, and unplanned revascularization). By multivariable analysis, delay to PCI of >24 h was a significant independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year mortality. The incremental risk of death attributable to PCI delay >24 h was greatest in those patients presenting with high-risk features. Conclusions In this large-scale study, delaying revascularization with PCI >24 h in patients with NSTE-ACS was an independent predictor of early and late mortality and adverse ischemic outcomes. These findings suggest that urgent angiography and triage to revascularization should be a priority in NSTE-ACS patients.