Implementing clinical guidelines on acute myocardial infarction care in an emergency service

Abstracts

FUNDAMENTO: A implementação de diretrizes clínicas na atenção ao infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) produz melhores resultados. OBJETIVO: Apresentar um programa multidisciplinar de implementação dessas diretrizes em uma grande emergência pública e verificar seu impacto. MÉTODOS: Estudo de avaliação de serviços de saúde, com desenho do tipo "antes e após", para avaliar os indicadores da qualidade da atenção ao IAM antes e após a implementação de estratégias de treinamento e de facilitação da adesão das equipes da emergência a diretrizes clínicas. Isso inclui a elaboração de material didático e de sensibilização e a supervisão continuada. Estimativa de risco relativo (RR) e intervalos de confiança (IC95%). RESULTADOS: Grupo pré-programa de diretrizes clínicas, 78 casos de IAM; grupo pós-programa, 66 casos de IAM. A maioria dos casos foi tratada apenas na emergência, por limitação de vagas na unidade coronariana. Observou-se aumento significativo (p<0,05) no uso de diversas intervenções avaliadas (indicadores de processo): betabloqueadores, 83%; inibidores da enzima conversora do angiotensinogênio, 22%; hipolipemiantes, 69%; nitrato intravenoso, 55%; reperfusão coronariana em IAM com supradesnivelamento de segmento ST, 98%. O uso de ácido acetilsalicílico desde o primeiro dia do IAM alcançou 95,5% dos casos. A perda de oportunidade de reperfusão coronariana, nos casos com essa indicação, reduziu de 71,4% para 17,6% pós-treinamento. CONCLUSÃO: O programa obteve um impacto expressivo e a sua multiplicação para outras unidades pode contribuir para melhorar a assistência ao IAM no SUS.

Guias de prática clínica; diretrizes; infarto do miocárdio; urgências; qualidade da assistência à saúde; gestão em saúde

FUNDAMENTO: La implementación de directrices clínicas en la atención al infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) produce mejores resultados. OBJETIVO: Presentar un programa multidisciplinario de implementación de estas directrices en una grande emergencia pública y verificar su impacto. MÉTODOS: Estudio de evaluación de servicios de salud, con diseño del tipo "antes y después", para evaluar los indicadores de la calidad de la atención al IAM antes y después de la implementación de estrategias de entrenamiento y para facilitar la adhesión de los equipos de la emergencia a directrices clínicas. Esto incluye la elaboración de material didáctico y de sensibilización y la supervisión continuada. Estimación de riesgo relativo (RR) e intervalos de confianza (IC95%). RESULTADOS: Grupo pre programa de directrices clínicas, 78 casos de IAM; grupo pos programa, 66 casos de IAM. La mayoría de los casos se trató solamente en la emergencia, por limitación de vagas en la unidad coronaria. Se observó aumento significativo (p<0,05) en el uso de diversas intervenciones evaluadas (indicadores de proceso): betabloqueantes, el 83%; inhibidores de la enzima convertidora del angiotensinógeno, el 22%; hipolipemiantes, el 69%; nitrato intravenoso, el 55%; reperfusión coronaria en IAM con supradesnivelación de segmento ST, el 98%. El uso de ácido acetilsalicílico desde el primer día del IAM alcanzó un 95,5% de los casos. La pérdida de oportunidad de reperfusión coronaria, en los casos con esa indicación, redujo de un 71,4% para un 17,6% pos entrenamiento. CONCLUSIÓN: El programa obtuvo un impacto expresivo y su multiplicación para otras unidades puede contribuir a la mejora de la asistencia al IAM en el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS).

Guías de práctica clínica; directrices; infarto de miocardio; urgencias; calidad de la atención a la salud; gestión en salud

^IHospital dos Servidores do Estado/Ministério da Saúde, Rio de janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^IIHospital Geral de Bonsucesso/Ministério da Saúde, Rio de janeiro, RJ - Brazil

^IIIEscola Nacional de Saúde Pública/Fiocruz, Rio de janeiro, RJ - Brazil

Mailing address

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The implementation of clinical guidelines on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care produces better results.

OBJECTIVE: To present a multidisciplinary program to implement these guidelines in a large public emergency center and check its impact.

METHODS: Evaluation study on health services, with "before and after" type design, to assess the indicators of quality of AMI care before and after implementation of training strategies and to facilitate emergency teams' acceptance of clinical guidelines. This includes the development of educational and awareness-raising materials and continued supervision. Relative risk estimate (RR) and confidence intervals (95%).

RESULTS: Pre-program group, 78 cases of AMI; post-program group, 66 cases of AMI. Most cases were treated only in the emergency room, due to small number of vacancies in the coronary care unit. We observed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the use of various interventions evaluated (process indicators): beta-blockers, 83%; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, 22%; lipid-lowering agents, 69%; intravenous nitrate, 55%; coronary reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, 98%. The use of aspirin from the first day of the IAM reached 95.5% of cases. The loss of opportunity of coronary reperfusion in patients with this indication, reduced from 71.4% to 17.6% post-training.

CONCLUSION: The program achieved a significant impact and its propagation to other units may contribute to better assist IAM in the public health system.

Key words: Practice guidelines; guidelines; myocardial infarction; emergencies; quality of health care; health management.

Introduction

Despite the observation of a trend to reduced mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Brazil, this group of diseases remains the leading cause of proportional mortality in the country, accounting for approximately 32% of deaths. They have a high impact on health care costs and quality of life. Ischemic heart disease (IHD), which includes acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is the major component of cardiovascular mortality in several cities in the South and Southeast, including the city of Rio de Janeiro^1,2.

Although recent studies reveal that the rate of hospital death has fallen to about 6%, several countries have reported rates ranging from 16.7% to 21%, well above those observed in clinical trials^3-8. Possible explanations for this variation include the selection criteria adopted in clinical trials, failure to apply optimized treatment in clinical practice, training of health staff, resources, severity and social conditions of patients.

For AMI care, there is a number of effective treatment options, available through clinical guidelines (CG) by international societies, as well as by the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC)^9-11. However, there is a great variation in the use of these therapies, which may often serve as evidence to failure to adopt well-establish protocols^12-17.

Today the assumption that the implementation of CG set from the scientific evidence available on the effectiveness of interventions produces better results in the assisted population is internationally accepted^16-20. There is also the challenge of incorporating the clinical management as a dimension of management in health organizations and the understanding that the initiatives aimed at improving the quality of care need to be integrated and conducted at the organizational level^21-27. Therefore, this article aims to present an experience of implementing CG for AMI care in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on the strategies employed and the assistance-related results produced.

Methods

The study involves a "before and after" evaluation design, comprising indicators of quality of AMI care before and after the implementation of a program to implement CG in the emergency room of the Hospital Geral de Bonsucesso (HGB) in Rio de Janeiro. The program included training strategies and other strategies to facilitate teams' acceptance to adopt conducts based on scientific evidence, synthetically defined from the III Guidelines on Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment, issued by SBC¹¹. The study team initially promoted a workshop with representatives from the Brazilian Medical Association (AMA), cardiologists from SBC and from the Society of Cardiology of Rio de Janeiro State, to agree on an work agenda concerning the need and feasibility of updating the guidelines. The difficulties in implementing this agenda were incompatible with the schedule of the study. Therefore, we opted for the Guideline published by SBC, which mostly contained current content with recommendations for AMI treatment based on scientific evidence.

With a view to early identify and assist patients with potential diagnosis of AMI, the training and the production of specific educational materials were targeted not only at health professionals (doctors, nurses, nursing technicians, electrocardiogram operators), but also receptionists, stretcher-bearers and guards involved in patient care. The materials produced and used as facilitators of adherence to CG included: a brochure containing a summary of the guidelines distributed to university-level health professionals, particularly doctors; a pocket folder containing a summary of the brochure, with the most relevant therapeutic recommendations and an AMI care flowchart, targeted to physicians; and special badges with content tailored to various professional categories. The badges contained technical information compatible with the level of the function of each professional involved in reception and care of patients with chest pain in the emergency room. We also produced a program pin. Both badges and the pin were tools to encourage and integrate the team. We also incorporated training materials previously developed by the team of cardiologists from the HGB on differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes for doctors and nurses.

To monitor adherence to guidelines and assistance-related results from the study, we used the supervision of staffs by leading cardiologists and evaluation of indicators before and after implementation of CG. The evaluation of the effects of the CG implementation program was performed by collecting data from medical records, through questionnaires to set up indicators of AMI care process quality selected and adapted from the studies of the GAP project (Guidelines Applied in Practice)^20,25-27 and the III Guideline of SBC.¹¹ The indicators selected took into account the effectiveness documented by scientific evidence and the availability of the study onsite. The relative risks (RR) of using the interventions selected post-implementation of CG comparing to the period before it, and their confidence intervals (95%) were estimated.

The criterion for inclusion in the study was documented diagnosis of AMI. Exclusion criteria were records of chest pain not characterizing AMI and AMI case ruled out during follow-up. The definition of AMI diagnosis followed the III Guideline of SBC⁸, and contemplated the characteristic increase and gradual decrease in troponin, or faster rise and fall for CK MB fraction (CK-MB) with at least one of the following criteria: ischemic symptoms; development of pathological Q waves on electrocardiogram; or ECG changes indicating ischemia (ST elevation or depression).

The sample was not probabilistic, with operationally limited collection period from August, 2005 to June, 2006, pre-implementation of clinical guidelines (pre-CG), from August 2006 to December 2006, after implementation of clinical guidelines (post-CG). It comprised 78 cases of AMI in the pre-CG group, for which there was information available regarding emergency care, collected retrospectively; and 66 cases in the post-CG group collected prospectively.

Data were entered into an electronic database built in Access and analyzed using the programs EpiInfo 3.2.2. and SAS^TM. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of ENSP/FIOCRUZ and HGB.

Results

Table 1 shows the distribution of cases according to demographic and clinical variables in both groups. There was an improvement in filling the data for hypertension, diabetes, smoking and the Killip class upon admission, reflected in a lower percentage of unknown cases. The average length of stay in the emergency room was 6.7 days in the pre-CG group and 8.3 days post-Cg, which is a non-significant difference.

Table 2 presents the use of therapeutic interventions recommended by the CG, and indicates, in general, significant improvement in post-CG adhesion. For the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) since the first day, there was no significant improvement. Among the cases with no recorded use of ASA, only one (post-CG) had a history of allergy outlined in the medical record.

The use of beta-blockers increased significantly post-CG, and it wasn't prescribed in only four of 66 cases of this group, all with explicit contraindication. Some of this increase may be related to the higher proportion of patients in Killip class I upon admission in this group (Table 1). The use was oral in all cases except in one case of intravenous use pre-CG.

The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) significantly increased in the post-CG group, as well as intravenous nitrate and lipid lowering drugs.

The use of coronary reperfusion significantly increased in the post-CG group. Table 2 examines the indicator firstly for all cases of AMI with ST segment elevation or left bundle branch block (AMI with ST segment elevation/LBBB). Then, it just considers the "ideal patient" for pharmacological thrombolysis, i.e., the referent of the intervention (AMI with ST segment elevation/LBBB, within the time interval of up to 12 hours from the symptom onset and without contraindications)^9-11. Failure to undergo intervention in this case is referred to as "loss of opportunity."

In the pre-CG group, in eight out of 53 cases of AMI with ST segment elevation/LBBB there was no information about contraindications for pharmacological reperfusion, and out of these, three received thrombolytics. From the post-CG group, in all 34 cases of AMI with ST segment elevation/LBBB, it was possible to identify whether or not they were referents for pharmacological thrombolysis. The analysis included two cases of primary angioplasty (one pre-CG and another post-CG), because this form of reperfusion was the team's decision, not characterized as loss of opportunity. Primary angioplasty was performed outside the initial referent of ST elevation or LBBB pre-CG. In the post-CG group, there was no case with no indication receiving any form of reperfusion therapy.

Table 3 shows the average intervals of time between the onset of AMI symptoms, admission to the emergency and coronary reperfusion, where hospital delay was analyzed until reperfusion. This table included an additional case of coronary angioplasty performed outside the referent in the pre-CG group, because the purpose is to analyze the in-hospital logistics of using resources for coronary reperfusion. This case was excluded from Table 2, which only examined reperfusion in candidates with indication for that. Although the number of cases is small, there was a reduction in the average in-hospital delay until the beginning of reperfusion post-CG after 112 minutes (95% CI=27.9; 196.0). The use of mechanical reperfusion was exceptional, and with a delay greater than that observed for streptokinase.

Other interventions observed, despite not being part of the group of indicators selected were: significant increase in the use of 14.1% clopidogrel pre-CG to 78.8% post-CG (RR=5.59; 95%CI=3.19;9.80), significant increase in the use of cardiac catheterization during hospitalization of AMI, from 19.2% pre-CG to 92.4% post-CG (RR=4.81; 95%CI=3.03;7.61); and nonsignificant increase in the use of coronary care unit from 17.9% pre-CG to 25.6% post-CG (RR=1.41; 95%CI=0.77;2.69).

Chart 1 summarizes the impact of the CG implementation program on the process indicators selected, and shows a substantive and statistically significant improvement.

Discussion

This study presented the results of a multidisciplinary program for implementing CG in AMI care in a major public emergency center in Rio de Janeiro. In general, the process indicators selected documented an expressive and statistically significant performance improvement at the HGB.

For the selection of quality indicators, we took into consideration the reality of the HGB. The indicators basically covered assistance in the emergency department, and there was no information about the prescription of discharge. Recently published recommendations for the standardization of quality indicators in the context of AMI care emphasize the use of aspirin upon admission and in the prescription of discharge, reperfusion therapy in AMI with ST segment elevation/LBBB up to 12 hours of symptom onset, and delay until fibrinolysis or primary angioplasty²⁸. Regarding the use of beta-blockers, statins and ACE inhibitors, the recommendation is to monitor the indicator by prescribing discharge²⁹. A comparison of studies evaluating quality involves the need to standardize the indicators, including as to the correct specification of the denominator, which may involve all cases or a particular subgroup.

The quality targets to be achieved in the GAP project were defined by groups of experts and consist of: ASA in the first 24 hours and at discharge (95%); beta-blocker in the first 24 hours (78%) and upon discharge; median delay until thrombolysis (30 minutes); median delay until angioplasty (80 to 120 minutes); ACE inhibitor upon discharge (78%); smoking cessation counseling (78%)^25-27.

Our study reached the target of the GAP project for the use of ASA within 24 hours, but other indicators of use of interventions cannot be directly compared, because the moments of measurement differ. Average hospital delay until reperfusion with streptokinase was 80 minutes, and median, 66 minutes, more than twice the GAP target.

In the pre-CG group, there was significant underutilization of coronary reperfusion, characterizing a 71.4% loss of opportunity. After the implementation of the guidelines, reperfusion in the referent increased almost threefold and the loss of opportunity was reduced to 17.6% (Table 2), which is smaller than the 25.8% reported in the expanded Grace multi-center study. In this study, 74.4% of cases of AMI with ST-segment elevation/LBBB were admitted within 12 hours from symptom onset, in which 74.2% received some reperfusion therapy¹⁷.

Median in-hospital delay until the start of pharmacological reperfusion reported in the Grace study was 32 minutes, which is shorter than the delay for primary angioplasty (median=110 minutes)¹⁷. Delays in HGB were higher, but declined post-CG; there was also a higher in-hospital delay with primary angioplasty.

Another national³⁰ study reported the impact of adopting institutional protocols of AMI care at a tertiary university hospital, and pointed out to improved doctors' adhesion to scientific evidence-based conducts and reduced hospital mortality. The authors compared two series of cases admitted to the intensive care unit, and the second one was in the period in which there was incorporation of clinical protocols for AMI care. The strategies were not specified, but for the wording of the protocol weekly meetings were held with staff from the emergency and intensive care units, and a restructuring of the emergency rooms to speed up emergency care for patients with chest pain. There was an increase in the use of thrombolytic agents from 39% to 61.5%; ASA from 70.9% to 96.5%; beta-blockers from 34.9% to 67.8%; ACE inhibitors from 45.9% to 74.8%; nitrates from 61% to 85%. Direct comparison of these percentages with the HGB is limited because the article does not describe the proportion of cases in the referent.

For some indicators, the HGB reached percentages close to or higher than those reported by several recent studies. The percentage of use of effective interventions in the post-CG group are well above those reported in a U.S. study that compared states that implement continuing medical education policies or not³¹. The use of ASA was 79.4% and 79.9% respectively in states with and without an official program of continuing medical education; beta-blockers - 63.3% and 61.6%; use of thrombolytic therapy in the ideal patient - 42.6% and 47.2%; use of thrombolytic therapy or primary angioplasty (any strategy) - 52.8% and 58.2%.

From 2001 to 2007, the expanded Grace study documented, for patients with AMI with ST-segment elevation/LBBB, a small increase in the uses of ASA within the first 24 hours, of beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors; in 2007, the use of ASA upon admission reached 90.0%, beta-blockers 75% and ACE inhibitors, 60%. From 2001 to 2007, the use of any reperfusion strategy in cases admitted up to 12 hours from symptom onset was equal to 74.2%¹⁷.

A recent report from a U.S. institution that, in addition to adopting the GAP, has implemented a system of ongoing monitoring of quality and documented hospital use in acute coronary syndrome of: ACE inhibitors - 72.7%; beta-blockers - 93.0%; ASA - 96.2% and statins 81.2%¹⁶.

The determination of LDL cholesterol in the first 24 hours of admission of AMI is proposed by some studies as a process indicator^25,26. From the consideration that this determination not available in the emergence room of HGB and that recent studies have recommended the use of statins in all patients^28,10, the medical team responsible for implementing the CG decided to recommend use in all cases of AMI.

As for cardiac catheterization, the increase in its use in the post-CG group may have been excessive. One explanation is the limited availability of testing for risk stratification in HGB, which led the team to opt for catheterization for this purpose. The Grace study also reported an increased use of catheterization from 2001 to 2007, reaching 60% this year for AMI with ST-segment elevation or LBBB¹⁷. The use of coronary care unit was reduced, probably reflecting limited vacancies.

Regarding the strategies used, some were adapted from the experience of the GAP project^16,21, which was launched to incorporate national guidelines for the assistance process. This project focused on health professionals and patients through tools that systematically promote adhesion to evidence-based interventions that are considered strategic. The GAP was designed like a multifaceted intervention, and included the training of professionals; identification of local medical and nursing leaders; broad and general visits to hospital units; and measurement of indicators before and after the intervention. The identification of leaders and the training program were important factors^15,21-23. Also in the HGB, the existence of leading cardiologists at the hospital was fundamental. These were directly responsible for training and supervising various medical teams, and raising the awareness of other health professionals.

The proposed use of CG based on scientific evidence coincided with the perception of the team of cardiologists of the emergency room of HGB regarding the need for training professionals for the differential diagnosis of acute chest pain. The choice of HGB as a venue for this study was more comprehensive as it incorporated the entire spectrum of acute coronary syndrome, but did not include raising awareness for the use of CG. Thus, this study helped to expand and facilitate the proposed location of the participating hospital. Using this methodology in other public emergency rooms requires adaptation to specific characteristics of each unit.

The limitations of this study relate to the before and after design, to the retrospective portion of data collection and sample size. The study did not cover strategies focused on patient adhesion. In addition, discussion about the need for updating the guidelines is relevant and should be object of specific studies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the program of implementation of clinical guidelines for AMI care in the emergency room of HGB had a positive impact on improving short-term adhesion to evidence-based conducts. Relevant factors to this result included works performed by a multidisciplinary team, the commitment of professionals and managers to the process of improving the quality of care and involvement of local leaders.

Maintaining the adhesion reached must be evaluated by monitoring process indicators and supervision strategies. Supervision and monitoring methodologies to ensure the preservation of satisfactory results need to be developed and tested.

The propagation of these strategies for other emergency units, albeit with local adaptations, may help improve AMI care in our fields.

Acknowledgments

To Lúcia Regina Pantojo de Brito, for the graphic design of the material (brochure, folder, badges and pins) employed in the study.

To Ana Paula Lucas Caetano, for the managerial support provided to the study.

To CNPq - National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, for funding the project "Building Strategies and Evaluating the Implementation of Clinical Guidelines in the Brazilian Public Health System", call for papers no. 37/2004, in which this study is included.

Potential Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Sources of Funding

This study was partially funded by CNPq.

Study Association

This study is not associated with any post-graduation program.

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Implementing clinical guidelines on acute myocardial infarction care in an emergency service

Claudia Caminha Escosteguy^I; Alfredo Brasil Teixeira^II; Margareth Crisostomo Portela^III; Artur Eduardo Cotrim Guimarães^II; Sheyla Maria Lemos Lima^III; Vanja Maria Bessa Ferreira^III; Claudia Brito^III

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 Nov 2010
• Date of issue
  Jan 2011

History

• Accepted
  28 June 2010
• Reviewed
  27 May 2010
• Received
  25 Jan 2010