Outcomes of Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients by Presentation Site: Rural, Urban Community, or Specialized Cardiac Hospital.

BACKGROUND

Although delays in treatment are known to worsen outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction, their effect in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is less clear. Care quality and timely revascularization should be comparable across presentation sites to optimize patient outcomes.

METHODS

Using the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy data, we retrospectively analyzed adult NSTEMI patients who underwent cardiac catheterization and revascularization from January 2001 to March 2021. Patients were grouped by initial presentation site-rural hospital, urban noncardiac hospital, or specialized cardiac centre. We assessed in-hospital, 1-year, and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 30,817 NSTEMI patients, 19,482 underwent catheterization, and 12,567 received revascularization. Distribution by site was as follows: 44% at cardiac centres, 28.5% at urban noncardiac hospitals, and 27.5% at rural hospitals. Urban noncardiac hospital patients experienced significantly higher cardiovascular mortality in-hospital (hazard ratio [HR] 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.47), at 1 year (HR 1.30; 95% CI 1.11-1.53), and over an average 6.65-year follow-up period (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.07-1.24). Rural hospital patients showed a lower mortality incidence, potentially due to selection bias if critically ill patients did not survive the transfer. Both rural and urban noncardiac cohorts had elevated rates of major adverse cardiovascular events at all follow-up intervals. Time to catheterization was notably delayed for nonspecialized sites (cardiac centre, 0.83 ± 1.90 vs urban noncardiac 3.20 ± 3.05 vs rural, 3.09 ± 2.56 days; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

NSTEMI patients presenting to rural and urban nonspecialized hospitals experience worse short- and long-term outcomes, including increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. These findings highlight the need for strategies to reduce disparities in access to specialized cardiac care.