Frequency and Consequences of Recording an Electrocardiogram >10 Minutes After Arrival in an Emergency Room in Non–ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes (from the CRUSADE Initiative)

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 97; no. 4; pp. 437 - 442
• Main Authors: Diercks, Deborah B., Peacock, W. Frank, Hiestand, Brian C., Chen, Anita Y., Pollack, Charles V., Kirk, J. Douglas, Smith, Sidney C., Gibler, W. Brian, Ohman, E. Magnus, Blomkalns, Andra L., Newby, L. Kristin, Hochman, Judith S., Peterson, Eric D., Roe, Matthew T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15.02.2006; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular disease; Clinical outcomes; Coronary Disease; Coronary heart disease; Electrocardiography; Emergency medical care; Emergency Medical Services; Female; Gender differences; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - diagnosis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; ST elevation; Electrodiagnosis; Acute; Electrocardiography; Cardiovascular disease; Frequency; Circulatory system; Recording; Emergency; Cardiology; Coronary heart disease; Phlebology
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2005.09.073

We sought to determine the frequency of electrocardiographic (ECG) acquisition within 10 minutes of hospital arrival, factors associated with delayed ECG acquisition, and any relation among delayed ECG acquisition, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes. We therefore analyzed data from 63,478 patients (26,615 women, 42%) with high-risk non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (designated by positive cardiac markers and/or ischemic ST-segment changes) who were enrolled in the CRUSADE Quality Improvement Initiative from February 2001 to March 2004. Patients were categorized based on time to electrocardiography as delayed (>10 minutes from hospital arrival) or nondelayed (<10 minutes). Multivariable predictors of delayed ECG acquisition were determined. Overall, median time to electrocardiography was 15 minutes (25th to 75th percentile 7 to 32). ECG acquisition was delayed (median 25 minutes, 25th to 75th percentile 16 to 50) in 41,397 patients (65.2%). In the remaining 34.8%, time to electrocardiography was <10 minutes (median 5 minutes, 25th to 75th percentile 3 to 8). Women were more likely than men to have delayed ECG acquisition (69% vs 62%), and female gender was the most significant predictor of delayed ECG acquisition (odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 1.34). In conclusion, only 33% of high-risk patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome had an initial electrocardiogram obtained <10 minutes of arrival as recommended. Women were significantly more likely than men to have delayed ECG acquisition. Emergency departments should focus on decreasing the time to initial ECG acquisition to improve treatment of acute coronary syndrome in this group.