1. Introduction
Coronary artery disease remains a major public health problem in Latin America, especially in Argentina [1]. The GRACE has shown worse outcomes among Latin American patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared with European and American patients [2]. Data from international registries may not be representative of the patient population in Argentina due to differing characteristics and health policies.
Insurance coverage may affect mortality and clinical outcomes in patients with AMI [3]. Little information is available on the potential of insurance systems to reduce inequalities in the treatment and outcomes of acute coronary syndromes.
The present report is a prespecified sub-analysis of patients with AMI from the global SCAR (Síndrome Coronario Agudo en Argentina) registry that included all ACS (myocardial infarction and unstable angina), performed to evaluate patient characteristics, procedural details and in-hospital outcomes. The present analysis reports how health insurance coverage influenced treatment and outcomes in Argentina.
2. Material and methods
The SCAR registry was conducted by the research area and the Cardiovascular Emergency Council of the Argentine Society of Cardiology (SAC). It was a cross-sectional nation-wide multicenter survey developed in Argentina. Data from patients were uploaded to a web site.
Cardiologists who participated in the registry were advised not to modify any therapeutic strategies and treatment was left to the discretion of the physician.
The study was conducted in compliance with Good Clinical Practices, Argentine laws and Argentine data protection laws. No individual specific consent forms for the study were obtained. The protocol was reviewed and approved by an independent ethics committee and approved by internal committees in each institution.
The patients included in the analysis had a diagnosis of AMI with at least two of the following inclusion criteria: symptoms of myocardial ischemia for > 20 min, ST segment changes or T wave inversion in two leads compatible with myocardial ischemia, or new left bundle branch block, or development of new abnormal Q waves, elevation of troponins or CK-MB.
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was diagnosed when ST-segment elevation ≥ 1 mm was observed in at least two contiguous leads in EKG, or when a new left bundle branch block or new abnormal Q waves developed.
Patients with MI > 24 h, secondary angina and patients without typical angina were excluded for the present analysis.
Every medical institution affiliated to SAC was invited to participate in the registry through a mail letter. Eighty-seven centers in Argentina (academic institutions, community hospitals and private hospitals) agreed to participate. Fifty five percent of the participating centers had a Cardiology Fellow Program, 77% had a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for Primary Angioplasty (PCI) available 24 h a day, 7 days a week; and 74% had a Cardiovascular Surgery Service.
Patients were consecutively recruited from intensive care units (ICU) or cardiology departments. The centers were incorporated to the registry in different periods, between March and October 2011, and everyone included patients during a three month period. A computerized case record form (CRF) was filled-in for each eligible patient, and data was recorded on-line. In the case of missing data, an investigator from the SAC contacted the local investigator to obtain any missing information.
The following data were collected: cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular medical history, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical progression including symptoms on admission and Killip–Kimball class, therapeutic management, laboratory tests and in-hospital outcomes. Health insurance data was recorded: it included private insurance, “obras sociales” (OS) which are organizations that manage health coverage for people who are still working or retired, and uninsured people, who depend on health assistance at public hospitals.