Impact on mortality after implementation of a network for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction care. The...

Little is known about the impact of networks for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care on the population. The objective of this study was to determine whether the PROGALIAM (Programa Gallego de Atención al Infarto Agudo de Miocardio) improved survival in northern Galicia.

We collected all events coded as STEMI between 2001 and 2013. A total of 6783 patients were identified and divided into 2 groups: pre-PROGALIAM (2001-2005), with 2878 patients, and PROGALIAM (2006-2013), with 3905 patients.

In the pre-PROGALIAM period, 5-year adjusted mortality was higher both in the total population (HR, 1.22, 95%CI, 1.14-1.29; P <.001) and in each area (A Coruña: HR, 1.12; 95%CI, 1.02-1.23; P=.02; Lugo: HR, 1.34; 95%CI, 1.2-1.49; P <.001 and Ferrol: HR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.1-1.4; P=.001). Before PROGALIAM, 5-year adjusted mortality was higher in the areas of Lugo (HR, 1.25; 95%CI, 1.05-1.49; P=.02) and Ferrol (HR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.13-1.55; P=.001) than in A Coruña. These differences disappeared after the creation of the STEMI network (Lugo vs A Coruña: HR, 0.88; 95%CI, 0.72-1.06; P=.18, Ferrol vs A Coruña: HR, 1.04; 95%CI, 0.89-1.22; P=.58.

For patients with STEMI, the creation of PROGALIAM in northern Galicia decreased mortality and increased equity in terms of survival both overall and in each of the areas where it was implemented. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02501070).