Patients presenting to hospital with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who are at high risk of death or recurrent coronary events are less likely to receive treatment than those at low or moderate risk, according to a study published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia.
Associate Professor Ian Scott, Director of Internal Medicine at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and his colleagues, say the most common reasons patients did not receive treatment included older age and a previous history of ACS.
Animation of heart attack symptoms - Animation
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles
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Approximately 100,000 Australians are hospitalised each year with ACS.
Assoc Prof Scott says six out of eight therapies were used less frequently in high-risk than in low-risk patients.
"Patients at highest absolute risk of death or recurrent coronary events would be expected to derive greater benefit from treatment than lower-risk patients," says Assoc Prof Scott.
![Heart Attack Victims Safer When Hospitals Operate Jointly]( "Heart Attack Victims Safer When Hospitals Operate Jointly")
A report in the Journal of the American Heart Association says that heart attack patients residing outside cities, received lifesaving treatment much quicker when hospitals
The study suggests treatment may be withheld for a number of reasons, including concerns over treatment related risk to the patient, underestimation of treatment benefits, cost-effectiveness, and lack of access to therapies.
Assoc Prof Scott's article says further research is needed to know which treatment omissions are responsible for the majority of poor outcomes.
In addition, he recommends professional education programs, tools to help physicians calculate individual patient risk, more specific guideline recommendations, and better networking between hospitals to equalise access to all available therapies.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
Source: AMA
LIN/B
"Patients at highest absolute risk of death or recurrent coronary events would be expected to derive greater benefit from treatment than lower-risk patients," says Assoc Prof Scott.
Heart Attack Victims Safer When Hospitals Operate Jointly
A report in the Journal of the American Heart Association says that heart attack patients residing outside cities, received lifesaving treatment much quicker when hospitals
Advertisement
The study suggests treatment may be withheld for a number of reasons, including concerns over treatment related risk to the patient, underestimation of treatment benefits, cost-effectiveness, and lack of access to therapies.
Assoc Prof Scott's article says further research is needed to know which treatment omissions are responsible for the majority of poor outcomes.
In addition, he recommends professional education programs, tools to help physicians calculate individual patient risk, more specific guideline recommendations, and better networking between hospitals to equalise access to all available therapies.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
Source: AMA
LIN/B
Women, Younger Patients at Greater Lifetime Cancer Risk from CT Scan
The lifetime risk of cancer associated with radiation exposure from a computed tomography (CT scan) coronary angiography varies widely, with the risk greater for women and younger patients
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