Discharge Timing of Patients Presenting With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Regional Experience.

BACKGROUND

In regional settings, early hospital discharge after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) could improve efficiency of healthcare systems.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the characteristics of patients after STEMI and PCI based on hospital length of stay and compare the differences in outcomes of patients according to their length of hospital stay.

METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients presenting with STEMI to our 24/7 PCI centre in regional Victoria, Australia between January 2022 and December 2022. Baseline patient characteristics, procedural data, and outcome data including 30-day hospital readmission, major adverse cardiovascular events, and mortality rates were collected. Patient data were compared between three groups: early discharge (<72 hours), standard discharge (3-5 days), and late discharge (>5 days).

RESULTS

The early hospital discharge group had higher rates of a right coronary artery or left circumflex culprit vessel, with lower incidences of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The major adverse cardiovascular event rate in the early discharge group was 1.5% compared with the standard and late discharge groups with 1.2% and 4.2%, respectively (p=0.616). The rates of hospital readmission of any type were similar between early discharge group and standard discharge group (13.2% and 14.8%, respectively; p=0.411).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients treated successfully with PCI after non-left anterior descending artery STEMI with an uncomplicated postprocedural course, early discharge may be safely achieved.