Reperfusion strategies in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction during hospitalization in China: Findings from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular disease in China (CCC)-Acute Cronary Synrome project
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Zhiqiang , Li Jing , Tian Xiaoxiang , Wang Xiaozeng , Han Yaling 
Published: December 2023

Objective

To analyze the current situation of reperfusion strategies of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in China and evaluate the efficacy and safety of different reperfusion strategies, especially pharmaco-invasive percutaneous coronary intervention (PI-PCI).

Methods

The CCC-ACS (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) project is a joint study between the American Heart Association and Chinese Society of Cardiology (CSC). STEMI patients who were recruited to the CCC-ACS project between November 2014 and December 2019 and admitted within 48 hours after symptom onset and treated by thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in this cohort study. The primary efficacy outcomes were major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) that occurred during hospitalization. The primary safety outcomes were Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) major or minor bleedings criteria during hospitalization. Univariate regression logistic analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, propensity score-matched analysis, and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different reperfusion strategies.

Results

Of 37733 STEMI patients, 35019 patients received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), 999 patients received thrombolysis and 1715 patients received PI-PCI. Compared with PPCI, the thrombolysis group had higher incidence of all cause death (1.6% vs 2.8%, P =0.003), MACCEs (2.0% vs 3.6%, P < 0.001), and TIMI major bleedings (1.2% vs 2.2%, P=0.007). In the PI-PCI group, the incidence of MACCEs (2.0% vs 0.8%, P =0.001), all cause death (1.6% vs 0.4%, P =0.001), and cardiac death (1.5% vs 0.4%, P =0.001) were significantly lower than PPCI group; and the same conclusion was found in the subgroup of in time from first medical contact(FMC) to reperfusion ≥ 3h. However, the risk of TIMI minor bleedings (5.1% vs 6.7%, P=0.008) was higher in the PI-PCI group in the subgroup of in time from FMC to reperfusion ≥ 3h. Compared with timely PPCI group, the incidence of all cause death was significantly lower and the incidence of heart failure was higher in the scheduled PCI group. Compared with late PPCI group, the incidence of all cause death, MACCEs were significantly lower in scheduled PCI group. Compared with timely PPCI, the ratio of heart failure was statistically significant higher in the rescue PCI group. There was no significant difference in all outcomes in all models between rescue PCI group and late PPCI group. Moreover, compared with scheduled PCI ≤ 24h group, the scheduled PCI during 24h to 7d group had lower risk of TIMI major or minor bleedings and the scheduled PCI >7d group had the similar risk of bleedings; the scheduled PCI >7d group had lower risk of heart failure.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that in STEMI patients who could not perform timely PPCI, PI-PCI is feasible, including rescue PCI,which can reduce the rate of MACCEs and mortality during hospitalization.But the increased risk of bleedings also should be noted.In scheduled PCI after successful thrombolysis, appropriate extension the time window of scheduled PCI can be considered under stable clinical conditions.