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

WASHINGTON (Jul 13, 2015) -

The American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry was the source of data for research published in the first half of 2015, including a study that examines public reporting and PCI outcomes as well as research that showed implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are underutilized in older patients.

Is There a Link Between Public Reporting and PCI Outcomes?

Patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in states with mandated public reporting of outcomes had similar predicted risks but significantly lower observed risks of death during hospitalization and six months after PCI, according to a study based on data from the ACC's CathPCI Registry and published on March 14 in The American Journal of Cardiology. Researchers used the registry to evaluate the relationship between mandatory public reporting and patient selection for PCI by identifying differences in patient characteristics, cardiac status, and indications for PCI in states with and without mandatory public reporting. They also evaluated the relationship between reporting and quality of care, as measured by care processes - and compared predicted and actual in-hospital mortality and other outcomes in patients who underwent PCI in states with and without mandatory public reporting. Read more.

Study Addresses Appropriateness of ICD Implantation

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are effective in decreasing mortality in patients at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest. However, previous studies have reported that 20 percent of ICDs for primary prevention do not meet current criteria. A new study presented on May 14 at Heart Rhythm 2015 finds that the majority of ICD patients meet trial-based criteria, while many of those that do not meet trial-based criteria may have clinical circumstance to warrant one. Researchers, led by Daniel W. Kasier, M.D., and Mintu P. Turakhia, M.D., M.S., FACC, from the Stanford University School of Medicine, examined data from the ACC's ICD Registry. All patients who underwent first-time ICD or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator implantation for a primary prevention indication between January 2006 and December 2008 were included. Read more.

NCDR Study Examines Age and Sex Predictors of Complications Among Patients Receiving ICDs

Women with left ventricle systolic dysfunction who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator had a lower risk of death and hospitalization than men but a higher risk for procedure-related complications, according to a study published June 2 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Overall, older patients were at higher risk for death and heart failure-related hospitalizations but not for all-cause hospitalizations. Age and sex differences did not vary by the severity of heart failure symptoms or etiology of systolic dysfunction. Data for the study came from two sources: information on ICD eligibility, clinical characteristics, and provider details were collected from the ACC's ICD Registry, while information on outcomes, including procedure-related complications, hospitalization, and death, came from the Cardiovascular Research Network Virtual Data Warehouse. Records were gathered from treatment that occurred between January 2006 and December 2010. Read more.

NCDR Study Show ICD Use Underutilized in Older Patients

Following a myocardial infarction, only 1 in 10 patients age 65 or older with an ejection fraction of 35 percent or less had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator inserted within one year, and on average, patients who received an ICD had a significantly lower mortality rate than those who did not - 15.3 vs. 26.4 events per 100 patient-years, according to a study published June 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Using data from the ACC's ACTION Registry-GWTG linked with Medicare data, researchers assessed records from 10,318 patients at 242 hospitals between January 2007 and September 2010. The median age of patients was 78, and the majority (75 percent) underwent in-hospital revascularization. Researchers found younger, male patients who had prior coronary artery bypass graft procedures, larger infarcts, in-hospital cardiogenic shock, and cardiology follow-up within two weeks after hospital discharge were more likely to have ICD implantation within one year of a myocardial infarction. Older patients, women, and patients with end-stage renal disease were less likely to receive an ICD. Read more.

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

Institutional Factors Play Role in Cardiac Rehab Referral Rates After Angioplasty

Read more.

Study Finds Wide Variation in Carotid Artery Stenting Outcomes

Read more.

American College of Cardiology Registry Aims to Improve Cardiovascular Care in India

Read more.

The American College of Cardiology is a 49,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and 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, promotes cardiovascular research and bestows credentials on cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit acc.org.

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