Abstract

CHAVARRIAGA, Juan Carlos et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome in a specialized unit. Acta Med Colomb [online]. 2014, vol.39, n.1, pp.21-28. ISSN 0120-2448.

Abstract Introduction: acute coronary syndrome is one of the major causes of consultation in the emergency and cardiology services, with a high mortality rate and high costs to society. There is very little information regarding Colombian and Latin American population in international multicenter studies. It becomes a challenge to know in depth the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics, the risk scales used, angiographic findings, established treatment and mortality in patients who have been treated at a fourth level hospital of Medellin. Material and methods: epidemiological , observational, descriptive , longitudinal , retrospective case series study. The study population corresponds to patients over 18 years of age, who consulted the chest pain unit of the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Foundation with diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in a period of three months. Patients continued treatment according to the local and international chest pain recommendations and guidelines. After six months of the acute coronary syndrome, a patient contact was made by various means, including outpatient evaluations , medical records and telephone call. Details about clinical outcome, functional status and complications including reoperation,hospitalization or death was obtained, and the adherence to medical management was also assessed. Results: a total of 154 patients were analyzed , 30% (n = 47) for unstable angina, 37% (n = 56) for STEMI and 33% (n = 51) for NSTEMI . The mean age was 62 ± 13 years. 54% were men (n = 83). The associated risk factors were: hypertension 66 % (n = 101) , dyslipidemia 23% (n = 35), diabetes mellitus18% (n = 27), obesity 5.1% (n = 8) and 52% smoking (n = 80). The total catheterizations performed was 129; 21.8 % (n = 28) of these were normal and 78.2 % (n = 101) had significant obstructive lesions. Only 28 % of the patients with STEMI (n = 56) received primary reperfusion. In-hospital mortality was 7% (n = 11). After six months of follow-up 6 more deaths (12%) were presented. Adherence to drug treatment at six months was between 54 and 86%. Of the patients who were discharged with order of cardiac rehabilitation, only 3% had done it after 6 months of discharge. Conclusions: patients who are admitted to the chest pain unit at St. Vincent Hospital Foundation with acute coronary syndrome present epidemiological characteristics similar to those reported in the medical literature. However, mortality is higher. A low number of patients with STEMI who could receive reperfusion therapy was documented. Poor adherence to pharmacological management and cardiac rehabilitation was also found , possibly in relation with a limited access to health services of high complexity in a timely manner. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 21-28).

Keywords : acute coronary syndrome; risk stratification; TIMI score; GRACE score.

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