Demographic, clinical characteristics and medications of rehospitalized patients for acute coronary syndrome: boomerang study

• Main Authors: Tugba Kemaloglu Oz, Tarik Kivrak, Abdallah Almaghraby, Mahmoud Abdelnabi, Onur Tasar, Begum Uygur, Emrah Aksakal, Gobinda Kanti Paul, Seyyad Farshad Sadri, Fatemeh Nikroo, Yagoub Musa, Batur Kanar, Hakki Kaya, Fady Gerges, Yusuf Cekici, Arash Hashemi, Bilal Cuglan, Lutfu Bekar, Irina Kotlar, Mustafa Yenercag, Mesut Gitmez, Aysel Akhundova, Sinan Inci, Mehtap Yeni, Mustafa Dogdus, Meltem Altinsoy, Ayman Helal, Shafa Shahbazova, Fatih Tamnik, Patrick W J Tiau, Ibrahim Ersoy, Fadime Bozdurman, Mehdi Zoghi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: International Journal of the Cardiovascular Academy
• Subjects: acute coronary syndrome; clinical characteristics; demographics; medication; rehospitalization
• Online Access: http://www.ijcva.com/article.asp?issn=2405-8181;year=2021;volume=7;issue=2;spage=45;epage=49;aulast=Oz

Background: Rehospitalizations with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) have declined over the last years, but there is a remaining need for potential further reduction of rehospitalization after ACS to determine the most predominant predictors that can guide strategies to reduce re-hospitalizations burden. Aim: This multi-center study aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical characteristics, and medications of rehospitalized patients who suffered a new cardiac event in 12 months after admission due to ACS. Material and Methods: Patients age >18 years who have been hospitalized between November 1 2017, and April 1 2018, for ACS within12 months before the readmission for a new acute coronary event were enrolled. Results: The present study included a total of 628 (65.9% from Turkey) consecutive patients rehospitalized with ACS (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], 23.0%; ACS without ST-elevation [NSTE-ACS], 76.9%) from 15 different countries. The majority of the rehospitalized patients were men (67.9%), and the mean age was 63.1 ± 12.53 years. 406 (64.6%) had typical, 209 (33.2%) of patients had atypical chest pain and 13 (2.07%) had not any chest pain complaint during readmission. 304 (48.41%) of patients were discharged from hospital earlier than 3 days and 107 (17.04%) of patients stayed more than 7 days. The subcategories of first index diagnosis were 227 (36.1%) STEMI; 401 (63.8%) NSTE-ACS. The mean time from index discharge to rehospitalization was 189.25 ± 118 days. 248 (39.4%) patients were re-hospitalized more than once after index discharge. The most common risk factors were diabetes mellitus (471, 75.0%). 175 (27.87%) of patients stopped taking medication before re-hospitalization. Most of the patients (69.4%) had multivessel disease. Conclusion: Several factors identify patients at higher risk of rehospitalization with ACS. Understanding and preventing these causes can prevent rehospitalization and improve their outcome.