PCI for acute coronary syndrome during vacation may reduce mortality

Patients with ACS who underwent primary PCI while on vacation had improved outcomes compared with those who did not undergo the procedure, according to data presented at the Acute Cardiovascular Care Congress.

“If you are traveling and experience heart attack symptoms such as pain in the chest, throat, neck, back, stomach or shoulders that lasts more than 15 minutes, call an ambulance without delay,” Ryota Nishio, MD, of the department of cardiology at Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital in Izunokuni, Japan, said in a press release.

Researchers analyzed data from 2,564 patients with ACS who underwent PCI between January 1999 and May 2015. Patients underwent the procedure at a hospital near a resort tourism destination in Japan.

Clinical endpoints of interest were cardiac death and all-cause death during follow-up. Researchers also assessed long-term outcomes and clinical backgrounds of patients with ACS who were from the district of interest.

Of patients in the study, 7.5% were traveling at the onset of ACS. Patients who were traveling during ACS onset were typically younger and were more likely to have STEMI.

During a median follow-up of 1,921 days, patients who were local to the area had higher rates of long-term mortality compared with travelers (25.4% vs. 16.7%; P for log-rank = .0015). Both groups had similar rates of cardiac death (P for log-rank = .3).

Patients who had ACS during a trip had a significantly lower risk for all-cause mortality after adjusting for hypertension, sex, age, dyslipidemia, diabetes, current smoking, chronic kidney disease, prior MI, STEMI and Killip class (adjusted HR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38-0.83).

“Our study shows that long-term outcomes after a heart attack while traveling can be good if you get prompt treatment,” Nishio said in the press release. “It is important that when you are over the immediate emergency phase and return home, you see your doctor to find out how you can reduce your risk of a second event by improving your lifestyle and potentially taking preventive medication.” – by Darlene Dobkowski

Reference:

Takahashi N, et al. Abstract P154. Presented at: Acute Cardiovascular Care Congress; March 2-4, 2019; Malaga, Spain.

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.