Contact: Katie Glenn, kglenn@acc.org, 202-375-6472

WASHINGTON (May 26, 2015) -

The American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry was the source of data for seven studies published in the first four months of 2015, including a study that identified possible overuse of anticoagulants in low-risk atrial fibrillation patients and research that found a relationship between operator experience and outcomes in certain patients after percutaneous coronary intervention or angioplasty.

CathPCI Registry Study Compares Outcomes of Sleep-Deprived vs. Non-Sleep-Deprived PCI Operators

Only a small number of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures are performed by operators who had completed at least one in the middle of the night, and there were no significant differences in mortality between acutely sleep-deprived and non-sleep-deprived operators, according to a study published Jan. 19 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The study did, however, find an increased risk of bleeding associated with procedures performed by those with chronic sleep deprivation. Using data from the American College of Cardiology's CathPCI Registry, researchers assessed more than 1.5 million procedures performed by 5,014 operators between 7 a.m. and midnight between 2009 and 2012. Read more.

CathPCI Registry Study Examines Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Percutaneous coronary intervention procedures for patients with chronic total occlusions are performed infrequently, according to a study published Feb. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The study also found that operators with more experience performing this procedure had greater success than inexperienced ones. The health of the patients also played a role in the outcomes. Using data from the American College of Cardiology's CathPCI Registry, researchers looked at 594,510 percutaneous coronary intervention procedures between July 2009 and March 2013. Read more.

IMPACT Registry Study Reviews Procedure Types, Adverse Events in Congenital Heart Defect Patients

There is little difference in adverse events between diagnostic and interventional procedures in patients with congenital heart defects, but there are significant differences among age groups, with newborns at the highest risk, according to a study published Feb. 23 in Cardiology in the Young. Using data from the American College of Cardiology's IMPACT Registry, researchers analyzed records of 19,797 patients admitted between 2011 and 2013. Of that number, 35 percent of procedures performed were for diagnostic purposes and 65 percent for interventions. Read more.

Prospective Risk Stratification for Bleeding Before PCI May Increase Use of Avoidance Strategies

When the consent form for percutaneous coronary interventions included information about bleeding risk, risk avoidance strategies were more likely to be deployed, leading to a 44 percent decrease in bleeding, according to a study published March 24 in the British Medical Journal. Using data from the American College of Cardiology's CathPCI Registry, researchers looked at records from 10,937 patients between March 2010 and May 2011. The goal was to compare use of bleeding avoidance strategies before the availability of a consent form that included individualized estimates of bleeding risks and after the risk discussion was included on the form. Avoidance strategies included medication (bivalirudin), radial access and vascular closure devices. Read more.

PINNACLE Registry Study Highlights Low-Risk Atrial Fibrillation Patients Receiving Oral Anticoagulants

Despite atrial fibrillation guidelines stating that patients younger than 60 years with atrial fibrillation but without any established risk for stroke should not be prescribed oral anticoagulants, nearly 25 percent of this population is receiving these medications, according to a research letter published April 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Using data from the American College of Cardiology's PINNACLE Registry, researchers looked at records from 10,995 young, healthy patients with atrial fibrillation with no structural heart disease and at low risk for thromboembolism. The records were from 76 cardiology practices from 287 different geographic offices in 33 states. Read more.

NCDR data was also used in studies previously highlighted during this time period. Those studies include:

• Short Hospital Stays After Angioplasty Following Heart Attack Often Sufficient
  Read more.
• Study Compares Outcomes of Two Devices Used in Carotid Artery Stenting
  Read more.

The American College of Cardiology is a 49,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit www.acc.org.

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