Electronic health records and outpatient cardiovascular disease care delivery: Insights from the American College of Cardiology’s PINNACLE India Quality Improvement Program (PIQIP)

Background There has been a push toward implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) in federally-funded hospitals under the current policies initiated by the Indian government, with a lack of evidence supporting their adoption. We analyzed data from the American College of Cardiology’s PINNACLE (Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence) India Quality Improvement Program (PIQIP) to evaluate the association between EHR use and quality of cardiovascular disease care in India. Methods and Results Between 2011–2016, we collected data on performance measures for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) among 17 participating practices in PIQIP. There were 19,035 patients with CAD, 9,373 patients with HF, and 1,127 patients with AF. Documentation of co-morbidity burden in patients with CAD was lower among practices with EHR—hypertension (49.8% vs. 52.1%, p = 0.003), diabetes (34.9% vs. 38.3%, p < 0.001), and hyperlipidemia (0.2 vs. 3.9%, p < 0.001). On the contrary, documentation of medication prescription was higher in CAD patients seen at practices with EHR—aspirin (63.2% vs. 17.8%, p < 0.001), clopidogrel (41.7% vs. 27.4%, p < 0.001), beta-blockers (61.4% vs. 9.8%, p < 0.001), and ACE-i or ARBs (53.9% vs. 16.4%, p < 0.001). Similarly, documentation of receipt of beta-blockers (43.8% vs. 10.7%, p < 0.001), ACE-i or ARBs (40.8% vs. 16.1%, p < 0.001), and beta-blockers + ACE-i or ARBs (36.4% vs. 3.6%, p < 0.001) was also significantly higher in patients with HF seen at practices with EHR. Among patients with AF, documentation of oral anticoagulation use was significantly higher among EHR practices—warfarin (42.5% vs. 26.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions Documentation of receipt of guideline-directed medical therapy in CAD, HF, and AF was significantly higher in practices with EHRs in India compared with sites without EHRs. Our findings shed a spotlight on the value of EHRs in future health care policy-making in India with regard to widespread adoption of EHRs in primary and advanced specialty care settings across public and private sectors.

Late stent thrombosis with drug-eluting stents: the price to pay to prevent restenosis?

Drug-eluting stents have revolutionized the management of patients with coronary artery disease by decreasing the incidence of restenosis and the need for repeat revascularization. Recent data indicate that they may, however, be associated with a small but significant increase in the risk of late stent thrombosis compared with bare-metal stents. In this review, we discuss the incidence, pathogenesis, and predictors of stent thrombosis, the most important being premature cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy. Drug-eluting stent implantation needs to be carefully considered in every patient, and the risk of stent thrombosis and bleeding needs to be weighed against the risk of restenosis. Current guidelines recommend that dual antiplatelet therapy should be continued for at least 1 year following drug-eluting stent implantation, although the optimal duration of therapy is yet unknown.

Impaired myocardial perfusion score and inflammatory markers in patients undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Microcirculatory dysfunction during acute myocardial infarction is mediated by various mechanisms including inflammation, thrombus, or plaque embolization. We hypothesize that patients with acute myocardial infarction and admission Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) myocardial perfusion grade (TMP) < 2 had increased inflammatory status as measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2003, 166 patients (178 lesions) were referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were stratified based on pre-PCI TMP < 2 or TMP 2. Univariate and multivariate predictors of in-hospital and 30-day death were determined with logistic regression. RESULTS: Pre-PCI TMP < 2 was found in 66% vs 34% with TMP 2 (P < .001). Hs-CRP levels were high in both groups but not significantly different (37.9 +/- 6 vs 33.7 +/- 6 mg/L, P = .63). Patients with TMP < 2 had higher WBC (12.83 +/-4.55 x 10(-3) vs 10.83 +/- 3.00 x 10(-3), P = .04), lower ejection fraction (40 +/- 11% vs 46 +/- 12%, P < .001), and higher admission CK-MB levels (116 +/- 13 ng/mL vs 55 +/- 13 ng/mL, P = .006). Death occurred in 12% in the poorTMP group vs 1.8% in the good TMP group (P = .03). Advanced age, use of an intra-aortic balloon pump, and elevated admission WBC were independently associated with in-hospital and 30-day death. CONCLUSIONS: High hs-CRP levels were not associated with impaired myocardial perfusion score. Microcirculatory impairment may be related to an increased inflammatory process, independent from high hs-CRP levels.

Posterior scleritis presenting as unilateral secondary angle-closure glaucoma.

The following is a case report of a 19-year-old male who presented with unilateral acute angle-closure glaucoma. Posterior scleritis was diagnosed based on clinical features and ultrasound B-scan. The acute angle closure attack and exudative retinal detachment completely resolved with use of oral corticosteroids.