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Maarten L Simoons

Publications and source records attributed to Maarten L Simoons.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Surgical validation of real-time transthoracic 3D echocardiographic assessment of atrioventricular septal defects.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of AV valve morphology assessed by real-time transthoracic 3D echocardiography (RT-3DE) compared to surgical findings and to assess whether RT-3DE is applicable in clinical practice. METHODS: Between June 2004 to May 2005, 19 patients with an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) undergoing surgical treatment at our institution were enrolled in the study. RT-3DE was performed with Philips Sonos 7500 echo-system and off-line analysis with TomTec Echoview software. The AVSD was assessed for the morphology of AV valve, with particular interest to the superior and inferior bridging leaflets. 3D data were compared with measurements and descriptions acquired during the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Acquisition of RT-3DE datasets was feasible in all patients. Of the 19 patients, there were 11 infants (age <1 year). The duration of 3D data acquisition was 12+/-3 min for patients above 1 year and 4+/-2 for infants. Reconstruction time was 22+/-8 min. In all patients the AV valve orifice and RT-3DE observations of the superior and inferior bridging leaflets were all correctly identified by RT-3DE compared with the surgical findings. CONCLUSION: Real-time transthoracic 3D echocardiography provides accurate assessment of AVSDs and correctly depicts the AV valve morphology. After a short learning curve, RT-3DE is easily applicable during daily clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic implications of a normal stress technetium-99m-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion study in patients with a healed myocardial infarct and/or previous coronary revascularization.

Previous studies have shown a good outcome for patients who present with normal findings on stress myocardial perfusion imaging. Currently, the prognostic implications of a normal study in patients who have a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) are not clear. This study investigated the long-term prognosis after a normal finding on stress technetium-99m (Tc-99m)-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with a history of CAD. The study included 147 consecutive patients with a history of CAD (previous myocardial infarction and/or myocardial revascularization), who underwent exercise bicycle or high-dose dobutamine-atropine stress Tc-99m-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography, and had normal perfusion results during stress and at rest. Follow-up was completed in all patients. During a follow-up of 6.5 +/- 1.9 years, 20 patients (14%) died, 10 (7%) of whom died due to cardiac causes, and 12 (8%) had a nonfatal myocardial infarction. Annual cardiac death rates were 0.5% during the first 3 years of follow-up and 1.3% in the subsequent 3 years. Independent predictors of cardiac death were male gender, rate-pressure product at rest, and rate-pressure product at peak stress. In conclusion, patients who have a history of CAD have a very low cardiac death rate during the 3 years after a normal finding on stress Tc-99m-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography. Repeated testing should be reconsidered 3 years after the initial evaluation and when a change in symptoms or clinical condition occurs.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Under-utilization of evidence-based drug treatment in patients with heart failure is only partially explained by dissimilarity to patients enrolled in landmark trials: a report from the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure.

AIMS: Surveys on heart failure management suggest under-utilization of life-saving evidence-based treatment. Evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines are based on the results of randomized controlled trials. Therefore, we investigated how patients who fulfilled the enrolment criteria of randomized trials were treated in real life. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected three large placebo-controlled trials of patients with chronic heart failure, in which ACE-inhibitors (ACE-Is), beta-blockers, and spironolactone proved to be safe and effective. The major enrolment criteria of trials were identified and applied to patients enrolled in the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure to identify the proportion of patients eligible for treatment and also treated appropriately. Of the 10 701 patients who were enrolled in the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure, only a small percentage (13%) would have qualified for participation in at least one of the selected trials. Patients who fulfilled enrolment criteria of the identified trials were more likely to be treated with ACE-Is (83% of SOLVD-eligible patients), beta-blockers (54% of MERIT-HF-eligible patients), and aldosterone antagonists (43% of RALES-eligible patients) than trial-ineligible patients. Almost half of SOLVD-eligible patients who were treated with ACE-Is received the target dose as recommended in the guidelines, but only <10% of MERIT-HF eligible patients who were treated with beta-blockers received the target dose. CONCLUSION: ACE-Is are widely utilized but given in lower doses than proven effective in clinical trials. beta-Blockers are underused and given in lower doses to patients who fulfil the enrolment criteria of relevant landmark trials.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic significance of left anterior hemiblock in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the functional and prognostic significance of left anterior hemiblock (LAHB) in patients with no history of myocardial infarction referred for dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). BACKGROUND: The significance of isolated LAHB in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. METHODS: We studied 1,187 patients with suspected CAD and no history of myocardial infarction who underwent DSE and were followed for occurrence of cardiac death. RESULTS: Left anterior hemiblock was detected on baseline electrocardiogram in 159 patients (13%). Ischemia occurred more frequently in patients with LAHB (43% vs. 33%, p = 0.02). During a mean follow-up of 5.0 +/- 2.5 years, 125 patients (11%) died of cardiac causes. The annual cardiac death rate was 4.9% in patients with LAHB and 1.9% for patients without (p < 0.0001). Patients with both LAHB and an abnormal DSE had the highest annual cardiac death rate (6.3%). In a Cox multivariable analysis, independent predictors of cardiac death were age, smoking, history of heart failure, diabetes, and ischemia. Left anterior hemiblock was independently associated with increased risk of cardiac death among patients with normal DSE (hazard ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 3.8) and in patients with abnormal DSE (hazard ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.7). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with suspected CAD referred for stress testing, LAHB is associated with increased risk of cardiac death. This risk is persistent after adjustment for major clinical data and abnormalities on the stress echocardiogram. Therefore, isolated LAHB should not be considered a benign electrocardiographic abnormality in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Sustained benefit 20 years after reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this research was to clarify whether the benefit of reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarction was sustained long-term and to assess the gain in life expectancy by reperfusion therapy. BACKGROUND: Reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction reduces infarct size and increases hospital survival. METHODS: We analyzed the 20-year outcome of 533 patients (mean age 56 years; 82% men) who were randomized to either reperfusion therapy or conventional therapy during the years 1981 to 1985. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 21 years (range 19 to 23 years). At follow-up, 101 patients (36%) of the 269 patients allocated to reperfusion treatment and only 71 patients (26%) of the 264 conventionally treated patients were alive (p = 0.02). The cumulative 10-, 15-, and 20-year survival rates were 69%, 48%, and 37% after reperfusion therapy and 59%, 38%, and 27% in the control group, respectively (p = 0.005). Life expectancy of the reperfusion group was 15.2 years versus 12.4 years in the conventionally treated group (p < 0.0001). Myocardial re-infarction and subsequent coronary interventions were more frequent after reperfusion therapy, particularly during the first year. In multivariable analysis, reperfusion therapy was an important independent predictor of lower mortality at long-term follow-up (hazard ratio 0.7; 95% confidence interval 0.6 to 0.8). Other independent predictors of mortality were age, impaired left ventricular function, multivessel disease, infarct size, and inability to perform an exercise test at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating sustained (20-year) improved survival after reperfusion therapy. The gain in life expectancy was almost three years, representing about one-third of the life-years lost by myocardial infarction.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of myocardial infarction as an end point in two large trials of acute coronary syndromes.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a key component of composite end points in trials that evaluate new therapies in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes. Types of MI events in these trials have not been well characterized. A similar clinical-events classification process adjudicated all suspected MI end points in the PURSUIT and PARAGON B trials. All MI end points were classified as nonprocedural, related to percutaneous coronary intervention, or related to coronary artery bypass grafting. A total of 16,173 patients was enrolled in the 2 trials, and 1,802 MI end points occurred during a 30-day follow-up. Nearly 66% of MI end points were not related to percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients who had MI compared with those who did not had higher 30-day mortality rates (13.6% vs 2.3%, p <0.001) and 6-month mortality rates (18.4% vs 4.4%, p <0.001). Patients who had been randomized to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition showed trends toward fewer MI events regardless of type. Two-thirds of MI end points in 2 large trials of acute coronary syndrome were not related to procedure. All MI types were associated with worse short- and long-term outcomes. Characterization of the type of MI provides an opportunity for more informed interpretation of clinical trial results and improved planning for future trials.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of all-cause mortality in women with known or suspected coronary artery disease referred for dobutamine stress echocardiography with normal versus abnormal test results.

The presence of myocardial ischemia during dobutamine stress echocardiography is independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in women after adjustment for clinical data. This association is observed in patients who have proved coronary artery disease and in patients who have no history of coronary artery disease.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed2005

Incremental prognostic value of dobutamine-atropine stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion imaging for predicting outcome in diabetic patients with limited exercise capacity.

PURPOSE: This study assessed the incremental value of dobutamine stress ( 99m)Tc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for the prediction of cardiac events in diabetic patients with limited exercise capacity. METHODS: The study population comprised 125 consecutive diabetic patients (mean age 61+/-9 years, 61% men) who were unable to perform an exercise test and underwent dobutamine ( 99m)Tc-tetrofosmin SPECT. Follow-up was successful in 124 (99%) patients. Three patients who underwent early revascularisation (within 60 days) were excluded. End-points during follow-up were cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction. RESULTS: An abnormal scan (with the presence of reversible or fixed perfusion defects) was observed in 76 (63%) patients. During the follow-up (3.4+/-1.5 years), 36 patients died (19 cardiac deaths) and four patients had non-fatal myocardial infarction. Cardiac death occurred in one of 49 (2%) patients with a normal myocardial perfusion study and in 18 of 75 (24%) patients with an abnormal study (p<0.001). Abnormal scan was incremental to the clinical parameters in predicting cardiac death (chi(2)=48 vs 39, p<0.05) and hard cardiac events (chi(2)=50 vs 43, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dobutamine stress ( 99m)Tc-tetrofosmin SPECT provides prognostic information additional to clinical data for the prediction of cardiac death and hard cardiac events in diabetic patients unable to perform an exercise test.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

The effect of perindopril on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes in the EUROPA study: results from the PERSUADE substudy.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril on cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1502 diabetic patients with known coronary artery disease and without heart failure of 12 218 overall in the EUropean trial on Reduction Of cardiac events with Perindopril in stable coronary Artery (EUROPA) disease were randomized in a double-blinded manner to perindopril 8 mg once daily or placebo. Follow-up was for a median of 4.3 years. The primary end point was cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and resuscitated cardiac arrest. Perindopril treatment was associated with a non-significant reduction in the primary endpoint in the diabetic population, 12.6 vs. 15.5%, relative risk reduction 19% [(95% CI, -7 to 38%), P=0.13]. This was of similar relative magnitude to the 20% risk reduction observed in the main EUROPA population. CONCLUSION: Perindopril tends to reduce major cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with coronary disease in addition to other preventive treatments and the trend towards reduction was of a similar relative magnitude to that observed the general population with coronary artery disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A levels in patients with acute coronary syndromes: comparison with markers of systemic inflammation, platelet activation, and myocardial necrosis.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine the predictive value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A is a zinc-binding matrix metalloproteinase abundantly expressed in eroded and ruptured plaques and may serve as a marker of plaque destabilization. METHODS: In 547 patients with angiographically validated ACS and in a heterogeneous emergency room population of 644 patients with acute chest pain, respectively, PAPP-A as well as markers of myocardial necrosis (troponin T [TnT]), ischemia (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]), inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]), anti-inflammatory activity (interleukin [IL]-10), and platelet activation (soluble CD40 ligand [sCD40L]) were determined. Patients were followed for the occurrence of death or myocardial infarction. RESULTS: In patients with ACS, elevated PAPP-A levels (>12.6 mIU/l) indicated an increased risk (odds ratio 2.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43 to 4.15]; p = 0.001). When the analysis was restricted to TnT-negative patients, PAPP-A still identified a subgroup of high-risk patients (odds ratio [OR] 2.72 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25 to 5.89]; p = 0.009). In a multivariable model, PAPP-A (OR 2.01; p = 0.015), sCD40L (OR 2.37; p = 0.003), IL-10 (OR 0.43; p = 0.003), and VEGF (OR 2.19; p = 0.018) were independent predictors. Prospective validation in patients with chest pain confirmed that PAPP-A levels reliably identify high-risk patients (adjusted OR 2.32 [95% CI 1.32 to 4.26]; p = 0.008). Patients negative for all three markers (TnT, sCD40L, and PAPP-A) were at very low cardiac risk (30 days: 3.0% event rate; no death). CONCLUSIONS: The PAPP-A level as a marker of plaque instability is a strong independent predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with ACS. Simultaneous determination of biomarkers with distinct pathophysiological profiles appears to remarkably improve risk stratification in patients with ACS.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Seven-year follow-up after dobutamine stress echocardiography: impact of gender on prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gender on long-term prognosis of patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE). BACKGROUND: Gender differences in the predictors of outcome among patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease undergoing DSE have not been adequately studied. METHODS: We studied 2,276 men and 1,105 women with known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent DSE. Follow-up events were cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI). RESULTS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography was normal in 687 men (30%) and 483 women (44%) (p <0.0001). Ischemia on DSE was present in 1,194 men (52%) and 416 women (38%) (p <0.001). During a mean follow-up of 7 +/- 3.4 years, there were 894 (26%) deaths (442 attributed to cardiac causes) and 145 (4%) nonfatal MIs. The annual cardiac event rate was 2.5% in men and 1.2% in women with normal DSE. Independent predictors of cardiac events in patients with normal DSE using a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were male gender (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.7 [range 1.1 to 2.8]), age (HR: 1.02 [range 1.01 to 1.04]), history of heart failure (HR: 3.4 [range 1.5 to 7.9]), previous MI (HR: 1.7 [range 1.1 to 2.8]), and diabetes (HR: 2.4 [range 1.3 to 4.5]). Independent predictors of cardiac events in patients with an abnormal DSE were age (HR: 1.03 [range 1.02 to 1.04]), history of heart failure (HR: 1.7 [range 1.3 to 2.1]), diabetes (HR: 1.4 [range 1.1 to 1.8]), heart rate at rest (HR: 2.8 [range 1.4 to 5.8]), wall motion abnormalities at rest (HR: 1.06 [range 1.04 to 1.09]), and ischemia on DSE (HR: 1.04 [range 1.02 to 1.07]). Myocardial ischemia was an independent predictor of cardiac events in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine stress echocardiography provides independent prognostic information in both men and women. In patients with normal DSE, gender is independently associated with cardiac events. The outcome of patients with abnormal DSE is not related to gender, after adjusting for stress echocardiographic abnormalities.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed2005

Perioperative cardiovascular mortality in noncardiac surgery: validation of the Lee cardiac risk index.

PURPOSE: The Lee risk index was developed to predict major cardiac complications in noncardiac surgery. We retrospectively evaluated its ability to predict cardiovascular death in the large cohort of patients who recently underwent noncardiac surgery in our institution. METHODS: The administrative database of the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, contains information on 108 593 noncardiac surgical procedures performed from 1991 to 2000. The Lee index assigns 1 point to each of the following characteristics: high-risk surgery, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, renal insufficiency, and diabetes mellitus. We retrospectively used available information in our database to adapt the Lee index calculated the adapted index for each procedure, and analyzed its relation to cardiovascular death. RESULTS: A total of 1877 patients (1.7%) died perioperatively, including 543 (0.5%) classified as cardiovascular death. The cardiovascular death rates were 0.3% (255/75 352) for Lee Class 1, 0.7% (196/28 892) for Class 2, 1.7% (57/3380) for Class 3, and 3.6% (35/969) for Class 4. The corresponding odds ratios were 1 (reference), 2.0, 5.1, and 11.0, with no overlap for the 95% confidence interval of each class. The C statistic for the prediction of cardiovascular mortality using the Lee index was 0.63. If age and more detailed information regarding the type of surgery was retrospectively added, the C statistic in this exploratory analysis improved to 0.85. CONCLUSION: The adapted Lee index was predictive of cardiovascular mortality in our administrative database, but its simple classification of surgical procedures as high-risk versus not high-risk seems suboptimal. Nevertheless, if the goal is to compare outcomes across hospitals or regions using administrative data, the use of the adapted Lee index, as augmented by age and more detailed classification of type of surgery, is a promising option worthy of prospective testing.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Pacemaker stress echocardiography predicts cardiac events in patients with permanent pacemaker.

PURPOSE: Noninvasive pacemaker stress echocardiography is a newly introduced method for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease in patients with a permanent pacemaker. The prognostic value of pacemaker stress echocardiography has not been studied. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 136 patients (mean age 64+/-12 years) with a permanent pacemaker who underwent pacemaker stress echocardiography for evaluation of coronary artery disease. All patients underwent pacemaker stress echocardiography by external programming (pacing heart rate up to ischemia or target heart rate). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (23%) had normal study results. Ischemia was detected in 75 patients (55%). During a mean follow-up of 3.5+/-2.4 years, 35 deaths (26%) (20 the result of cardiac causes) and 2 nonfatal myocardial infarctions (1%) occurred. The annual cardiac death rate was 1.3% in patients without ischemia and 4.6% in patients with ischemia (P=.01). The annual all-cause mortality rate was 3.1% in patients without ischemia and 7% in patients with ischemia (P=.004). The presence of ischemia during pacemaker stress echocardiography was the strongest independent predictor of cardiac death (hazard ratio 4.1, confidence interval 1.2-14.5) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.7, confidence interval 1.2-6.0) in a multivariable model. CONCLUSION: Myocardial ischemia during pacemaker stress echocardiography is an independent predictor of cardiac death and all-cause mortality in patients with a permanent pacemaker.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Feelings of being disabled as a risk factor for mortality up to 8 years after acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the independent prognostic value of the four subscales of the Heart Patients Psychological Questionnaire (HPPQ) on mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors up to 8 years after the event. METHODS: The HPPQ, which measures well-being, feelings of being disabled, despondency and social inhibition, was administered to 567 AMI patients during hospitalisation and at 3 months follow-up. The patients were followed for 8 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, 157 patients (28%) died. Forty-one percent of the patients had a score indicating at least mild to moderate feelings of being disabled. Patients with feelings of being disabled were at increased risk of mortality compared with those having a low score, adjusted for other cardiac risk factors [hazard ratio (HR)=1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3-2.5]. There was no interaction between feelings of being disabled and gender. None of the other HPPQ subscales were related to mortality or recurrent myocardial infarction (MI). When the study population was stratified by low and high clinical risk (43% vs. 57%, respectively), feelings of being disabled was the most prominent predictor of mortality in the low-risk group (HR=3.5, 95% CI=1.4-8.8). CONCLUSION: Feelings of being disabled measured at baseline and at 3 months was the most prominent predictor of mortality in low-risk patients 8 years post-MI. This finding adds to the existing knowledge that psychosocial variables influence morbidity and mortality in cardiac patients.

Attitude to Death↗
PubMed2005

Long-term prediction of mortality in elderly persons by dobutamine stress echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) was shown to provide incremental prognostic information. However, its role in the prediction of mortality in elderly persons is not well defined. We assessed the value of DSE in the prediction of mortality and hard cardiac events during long-term follow-up in patients older than 65 years. METHODS: We studied 1434 patients >65 years old (mean age 72 +/- 3 years) who underwent DSE for evaluation of coronary artery disease. Ischemia was defined as new or worsening wall motion abnormalities. Follow-up events were total mortality and hard cardiac events (cardiac mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of follow-up events. RESULTS: Ischemia was detected in 675 patients (47%). Five hundred six patients (35%) had a normal study, and 253 (18%) had fixed wall motion abnormalities. During a mean follow-up of 6.5 years, 532 (37%) deaths occurred, of which 249 (17%) were due to cardiac causes. A nonfatal myocardial infarction occurred in 45 patients (3%). Independent predictors of all-cause mortality in a multivariate analysis model were age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.08), male sex (HR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8), hypertension (HR 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4), smoking (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), diabetes (HR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8), rest wall motion abnormalities (HR 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09), and ischemia (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6). Independent predictors of hard cardiac events were age (HR 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09), male sex (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), smoking (HR 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), diabetes (HR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2), rest wall motion abnormalities (HR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.12-1.16), and ischemia (HR 2.1; 95% CI, 1.5-2.8). CONCLUSION: DSE provides independent prognostic information to predict all-cause mortality and hard cardiac events in elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Are international differences in the outcomes of acute coronary syndromes apparent or real? A multilevel analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: International variation in the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) has been well reported. The relative contributions of patient, hospital, and country level factors on clinical outcomes, however, remain unclear, and thus, was the objective of this study. DESIGN: Multilevel logistic regression models were developed for death/(re)infarction (MI) at 30 days and death in one year, with patients (1st level) nested in hospitals (2nd level) and hospitals in countries (3rd level). SETTINGS: The GUSTO IV ACS clinical trial was carried out at 458 hospital sites in 24 countries. PATIENTS: 7800 non-ST segment elevation (NSTE) ACS patients. MAIN RESULTS: There were substantial variations among countries in the processes and outcomes of care at 30 days, ranging from 5.4% to 50.0% for percutaneous coronary intervention, 4.3% to 21.2% for coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 5.0% to 13.9% for 30 day death/(re)MI, and 4.9% to 14.8% for one year mortality. However, the residual inter-country variations in 30 day death/(re)MI and one year mortality became non-significant and nearly disappeared (p > 0.500 for both) after adjusting for key baseline patient characteristics and hospital factors, which became significant (p < 0.01 for both). Patient level factors accounted for 96%-99% of total variation in these end points, leaving the remaining 1% and 4% of variance attributable to hospital level factors. CONCLUSION: The international differences in clinical outcomes in this study of NSTE ACS are primarily accounted for by the patient level factors, with hospital level factors playing a minor part, and the country level factors a negligible one. These findings have significant policy and research implications involving international collaboration and comparisons.

Abciximab↗