The treatment of elderly diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction: insight from Michigan's Cooperative Cardiovascular Project.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have higher morbidity and mortality rates than nondiabetic patients with AMI. Thus, reliable adherence to quality care is necessary in these patients to improve outcomes. We analyzed data from the Health Care Financing Administration's Cooperative Cardiovascular Project (CCP) in Michigan, addressing quality of care in diabetic patients with AMI. METHOD: All acute-care hospitals in Michigan had 8 consecutive months of baseline CCP data abstracted from medical records of all Medicare patients who were discharged with a principal diagnosis of AMI. Owing to the staggered 8-month periods, abstraction occurred for patients who were discharged between April 1, 1994, and July 31, 1995. RESULTS: Diabetic patients accounted for 33% of 8455 patients with AMI. Diabetic patients were primarily younger, female, and nonwhite. They had a greater frequency of non-Q-wave AMI and presented less often within 6 hours of their infarction. Comorbid conditions, such as hypertension, prior AMI, prior stroke, and/or prior revascularization, were more frequent in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients. Congestive heart failure occurred more frequently in diabetic patients. Length of stay (7.9 vs 7.0 days; P<.001), in-hospital mortality rates (16% vs 13%; P<.001), and rates for mortality within 30 days (21% vs 17%; P<.001) were higher in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite greater frequencies of comorbid conditions, poorer outcomes, and greater resource use, there is poor overall adherence to most quality indicators in diabetic patients with AMI. Better methods for systematizing proven prevention and treatment strategies in the care of patients with AMI are needed in this unique high-risk cohort.

Elderly patients at highest risk with acute myocardial infarction are more frequently transferred from community hospitals to tertiary centers: reality or myth?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of patients with acute myocardial infarction transferred from community hospitals. The study was designed as a retrospective chart review, and the data source was the Cooperative Cardiovascular Project from Michigan. METHODS AND RESULTS: Included in the study were consecutive Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction discharged from acute-care hospitals in Michigan between April 1, 1994, and July 31, 1995 (n = 7041): 2866 patients treated at community hospitals, 1241 transferred from community hospitals, 2731 admitted directly to tertiary hospitals, and 203 transferred from an outside emergency room to tertiary hospitals. The outcomes measured were patient characteristics, quality indicators, resource use, and 30-day mortality rates. Compared with patients not transferred, those transferred from community hospitals were younger, more frequently of the male sex, smokers, and were seen earlier after symptom onset. They had fewer cases of diabetes and lower Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores and Medicare Mortality Prediction System (MMPS) values. Aspirin during hospitalization and at discharge, thrombolytic therapy, and reperfusion therapy were all used more frequently in transferred patients, whereas the other key discharge quality indicators were no different. Mortality rate at 30 days was lower for transferred patients (9.4% vs 25%, P <.0001) when compared with those not transferred. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who are less ill, those who are seen early, and those who received thrombolytic therapy are more often transferred from community hospitals. On average, patients with greater comorbidity rates are treated at community hospitals and not transferred. Predicted and observed mortality rates were lower for the transferred group. Higher comorbidity rate in patients treated at community hospitals appears to be the major determinant of the observed higher mortality rates in these patients.