• Luan T Huynh, Jamie M Rankin, Phil Tideman, David B Brieger, Matthew Erickson, Andrew J Markwick, Carolyn Astley, David J Kelaher, and Derek P B Chew.
• Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. luan.huynh@health.sa.gov.au
• Med. J. Aust. 2010 Nov 1; 193 (9): 496-501.

ObjectiveTo describe the contemporary management and outcomes of patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Australia.Design, Participants And SettingObservational analysis of data for patients who presented with suspected STEMI and enrolled in the Australian Acute Coronary Syndrome Prospective Audit from 1 November 2005 to 31 July 2007.Main Outcome MeasuresFactors associated with use of reperfusion therapy and timely use of reperfusion therapy, and the effects of reperfusion on mortality.ResultsIn total, 755 patients had suspected STEMI. Median time to presentation was 105 minutes (IQR, 60-235 minutes). Reperfusion therapy was used in 66.9% of patients (505/755), and timely reperfusion therapy in 23.1% (174/755). Thombolysis was administered in 39.2% of those who received reperfusion therapy (198/505), while 60.8% (307/505) received primary percutaneous intervention. Cardiac arrest (OR, 2.83; P = 0.001) and treatment under the auspices of a cardiology unit (OR, 2.14; P = 0.02) were associated with use of reperfusion therapy. A normal electrocardiogram on presentation (OR, 0.42; P = 0.01), left bundle branch block (OR, 0.18; P = 0.001), acute pulmonary oedema (OR, 0.34; P < 0.01), history of diabetes (OR, 0.54; P < 0.01), and previous lesion on angiogram of > 50% (OR, 0.51; P = 0.001) were associated with not using reperfusion. In hospital mortality was 4.0% (30/755), mortality at 30 days was 4.8% (36/755), and mortality at 1 year was 7.8% (59/755). Receiving reperfusion therapy of any kind was associated with decreased 12-month mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% CI, 0.25-0.78; P < 0.01). Timely reperfusion was associated with a reduction in mortality of 78% (HR, 0.22; P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in early and late mortality in rural patients compared with metropolitan patients (P = 0.66).ConclusionTimely reperfusion, not the modality of reperfusion, was associated with significant outcome benefits. Australian use of timely or any reperfusion remains poor and incomplete.

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