[Benefit of the implementation of a ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction network on women]

The ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction network "Codi Infart" was implemented in Catalonia (Spain) in June 2009. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the Codi Infart on women.

Women referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention, were divided into two groups according to Codi Infart: Non-Codi Infart group (January 2003 to May 2009) and Codi Infart group (June 2009 to December 2012). Place of first medical contact, time intervals in diagnosis and treatment, treatments received and rate of major cardiovascular adverse events defined as all-cause death, reinfarction or stroke in-hospital, at 30 and 180 days were compared.

From a total population of 2,426 patients, 501 (20.7%) were women. One-hundred eighty-six women (2.09 cases/month) belonged to Non-Codi Infart group and 315 women (10.16 cases/month) to Codi Infart group. The percentage of women attended increased since the introduction of CI (22.2% vs. 18.5%, P=.028). In addition, the Codi Infart group had a higher percentage of women initially attended outside our institution (84.1% vs. 16.7%, P<.001), and lower total ischemia time (220 [155-380] vs. 272 [196-456], P=.003). However, no differences in 180-day major cardiovascular adverse events were detected (14.2% vs. 15.6%, P=.692).

The implementation of the major cardiovascular adverse events allowed to increase the rate and the percentage of women with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and reducing total ischemic time.