[Analysis of current cardiac critical care development in Henan Province]

Objective: To investigate the establishment, staffing, equipment allocation, and technological capabilities of cardiac intensive care units in public secondary and tertiary hospitals in Henan Province, and to provide a reference for promoting the development of nationwide cardiac critical care. Methods: In September 2023, supported by the Henan Provincial Health Commission, Cardiac Critical Care Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association conducted the first comprehensive survey on the construction of cardiac intensive care units in Henan Province. A Chi-square test was used to compare the findings between secondary and tertiary hospitals. Results: A total of 171 hospitals reported 1 602 cardiac intensive care unit beds, 1 091 physicians (physician-to-bed ratio: 0.68), and 2 298 nurses (nurse-to-bed ratio: 1.43). Tertiary hospitals had a significantly higher proportion of full-time physicians and physicians with a master's degree or above compared to secondary hospitals. Furthermore, tertiary hospitals had more nurses and a higher proportion of nurses with a bachelor's degree (all P<0.05). Regarding equipment, tertiary hospitals demonstrated higher availability of activated clotting time (ACT) analyzers, temporary pacemakers, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), and pulse index continuous cardiac output (Picco) monitors (all P<0.05). Among the hospitals surveyed, 123 could independently perform coronary interventional procedures, 93 could independently use an IABP, 26 could independently perform ECMO, and 53 offered continuous renal replacement therapy at the bedside. Conclusions: This study provides a preliminary understanding of the current state of cardiac critical care in Henan Province. Tertiary hospitals demonstrated advantages over secondary hospitals regarding medical staffing, the proportion of highly educated personnel, the availability of advanced equipment, such as ACT analyzers, temporary pacemakers, IABP, and Picco monitors, as well as in the performance of advanced procedures, including IABP and ECMO.