Effectively Applying Guidelines to Improve Outcomes in Patients with STEMI

Faculty

Needs Statement

Over 75 million US adults have cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the United States. Of those individuals with CVD, approximately 17 million have coronary artery disease (CAD), leading to more than 500,000 deaths annually. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), CAD accounts for the largest portion of the annual CVD-related US healthcare burden and ACS—a type of CAD including unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)—account for more than 1.5 million US hospitalizations each year. ACS, which result from thrombus formation in the coronary artery, generally require medication management and/or coronary intervention to restore circulation and prevent ischemic complications and mortality. American College of Cardiology (ACC) and AHA clinical practice guidelines incorporate medication management with fibrinolytic therapies, oral and IV antiplatelet options, and antithrombin agents into patient care for US/NSTEMI and STEMI, with or without coronary intervention. Despite the long-standing availability of practice guidelines and a growing armamentarium of treatment options, ACS mortality remains high—approximately 25% of men and 40% of women die in the year following an initial myocardial infarction. Data suggest an inverse correlation between guideline adherence and patient outcomes, including an estimated 10% decrease in mortality risk per 10% increase in guideline adherence. The ongoing burden of ACS and the availability of updated practice guidelines necessitate that hospital-based and managed markets physicians and pharmacists receive education providing practical strategies to incorporate guidelines for improved patient outcomes.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, emergency medicine physicians, hospital pharmacists and managed markets professionals.

Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:
1. Define the clinical and economic burden of STEMI in the United States;
2. Outline current evidence-based approaches for STEMI management, including medication management and coronary intervention;
3. Summarize current ACC/AHA practice guidelines for STEMI and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI);
4. Bridge the gap between evidence-based guidelines and real-world practice to improve patient outcomes in STEMI.

In order to receive a documentation of credit you must complete the educational activity, successfully complete the 10 question post-test with a score of 70% or better and complete the evaluation form in its entirety.

Estimated time to complete is one hour.

Accreditation

Medicine
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit actually spent in the educational activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Pharmacy
Princeton CME is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (ACPE Provider #452) and complies with the Criteria for Quality and Interpretive Guidelines. This activity is approved for 1 contact hour (0.1 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education (UPN 452-999-08-018-H01-P).

Any participant wanting to file a grievance with respect to any aspect of a continuing pharmacy education activity accredited by Princeton CME may contact John Savage, Director, Medical Education, North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME)-Princeton CME, in writing. The Director of Medical Education will review the grievance and respond within 30 days of receiving the written statement. If the participant is unsatisfied with the response, an appeal to the Vice President, Medical Education, NACCME-Princeton CME, may be made for a second level of review.

John Savage
NACCME-Princeton CME
300 Rike Drive, Suite A
Millstone Township, NJ 08535
E-mail: jsavage@naccme.com

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Cannon receives grant/research support from Accumetrics, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Co., Inc, sanofi-aventis U.S. and Schering Plough.

Dr. Atkins reports no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests of healthcare products or services related to this activity.

The planning committee reports no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests of healthcare products or services related to this activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentations.

The faculty has disclosed that no off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be discussed.

Activity Sponsorship

Supported by an educational grant from sanofi-aventis U.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

 

Copyright © 2008 by North American Center for Continuing Medical Education, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this accredited continuing education activity may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without first obtaining permission from the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education.