Hospitals' Cardiac Care Speed Saves Lives
A study
of 315 U.S. hospitals shows the closer they adhere to national guidelines
for treating heart attack patients, the lower their mortality rates.
Duke Clinical
Research Institute researchers presented their findings Wednesday at the
annual scientific sessions of American Heart Association in New Orleans.
The study involved
analyzing reports of hospitals' adherence to treatment guidelines and mortality
rates from 2002 to 2003.
Over the two
year period, the mortality risks rose by 3.1 percent at hospitals whose
care had worsened by straying from national guidelines. In contrast, mortality
risks declined by 37 percent over the same time period among hospitals
whose care patterns were most improved.
The American
College of Cardiology and the AHA issued guidelines for optimal care of
patients who arrive at hospital with symptoms of chest pain, irregular
readings on an electrocardiograph or elevated chemical markers of cell
death.
The guidelines
focus on giving suspected heart attack patients anti-platelet medications,
heparin, glycoprotein clot inhibitors (clot inhibitors) or beta-blockers
within the first 24 hours of admission.
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