use of evidence-based therapy in acute myocardial infarction patients admitted to hospital during the gulf registry of acute coronary events [GULF RACE]

ABSTRACT

The use of certain medications in acute myocardial infarction [AMI] is known to lower morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate, through the use of performance measures, the implementation of specific guidelines-recommended pharmacotherapy in the management of AMI in patients living in the Arabian Peninsula. The Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events [Gulf RACE] enrolled ACS patients from 6 countries in the Arabian Peninsula. We examined the use of 7 performance measures that relate to the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]. 5833 AMI patients were enrolled in Gulf RACE. In the first 24 hours of hospital arrival, 5713 [98%] patients were administered aspirin. The prescription rate at discharge was 5376 [97%] for aspirin, 4354 [78%] for beta-blockers, 5639 [84%] for statins and 3145 [57%] for clopidogrel. Left ventricular systolic function [LVSF] was evaluated in 3861 [66%] patients. Of those who had ejection fraction < 40% [921 patients], 725 [85%] received angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI] or angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB] at discharge. There was good adherence to guidelines-recommended medications in patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of AMI. The implementation of more performance measures need to be evaluated in order to assess the full picture of AMI management in this part of the world