GRACE Publications

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/113

ABOUT THIS COLLECTION

The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) (1999-2009) was an international registry designed to track in-hospital and long-term outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). With nearly 250 hospitals in 30 countries, GRACE enrolled over 102,000 patients. The GRACE risk score has been developed into an app and it has been integrated into electronic medical records systems used in daily clinical management of ACS patients worldwide. The United Kingdom national Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline has recommended employing the GRACE risk score since 2010. This collection showcases publications about the project and project research.

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Bridging the gender gap: Insights from a contemporary analysis of sex-related differences in the treatment and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes
(2012-01-17) Poon, Stephanie; Goodman, Shaun G.; Yan, Raymond T.; Bugiardini, Raffaele; Bierman, Arlene S.; Eagle, Kim A.; Johnston, Nina; Huynh, Thao; Grondin, Francois R.; Schenck-Gustafsson, Karin; Yan, Andrew T.; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: The question of whether gender-related disparities still exist in the treatment and outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) remains controversial. Using data from 4 registries spanning a decade, we sought to determine whether sex-related differences have persisted over time and to examine the treating physician's rationale for adopting a conservative management strategy in women compared with men. METHODS: From 1999 to 2008, 14,196 Canadian patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS were recruited into the Acute Coronary Syndrome I (ACSI), ACSII, Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE/GRACE(2)), and Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CANRACE) prospective multicenter registries. RESULTS: Women in the study population were found to be significantly older than men and were more likely to have a history of heart failure, diabetes, or hypertension. Fewer women were treated with thienopyridines, heparin, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors compared with men in GRACE and CANRACE. Female gender was independently associated with a lower in-hospital use of coronary angiography (adjusted odds ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.69-0.84, P < .001) and higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.56, P = .036), irrespective of age (P for interaction =.76). Underestimation of patient risk was the most common reason for not pursuing an invasive strategy in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Despite temporal increases in the use of invasive cardiac procedures, women with ACS are still more likely to be treated conservatively, which may be due to underestimation of patient risk. Furthermore, they have worse in-hospital outcomes. Greater awareness of this paradox may assist in bridging the gap between current guidelines and management practices.
Acute coronary syndromes without chest pain, an underdiagnosed and undertreated high-risk group: insights from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events. 2004
(American College of Chest Physicians, 2009-11-01) Brieger, David; Eagle, Kim A.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Budaj, Andrzej; White, Kami; Montalescot, Gilles; GRACE Investigators; Center for Outcomes Research
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The clinical manifestations of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) vary, and patients present frequently with symptoms other than chest pain. In this analysis, a large contemporary database has been accessed to define the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients presenting without chest pain across different diagnostic categories of ACS. DESIGN AND SETTING: The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events is a multinational, prospective, observational study involving 14 countries. PATIENTS: Patients presenting to the hospital with a suspected ACS were stratified according to whether their predominant presenting symptoms included chest pain (ie, typical) or did not (ie, atypical). Demographics, medical history, hospital management, and outcomes were compared. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Of the 20,881 patients in this analysis, 1,763 (8.4%) presented without chest pain, 23.8% of whom were not initially recognized as having an ACS. They were less likely to receive effective cardiac medications, and experienced greater hospital morbidity and mortality (13% vs 4.3%, respectively; p < 0.0001) than did patients with typical symptoms. After adjusting for potentially confounding variables, increased hospital mortality rates were noted in patients with dominant presenting symptoms of presyncope/syncope (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 2.9), nausea or vomiting (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.4), and dyspnea (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9), and in those with painless presentations of unstable angina (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.5) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.2). CONCLUSION: Patients with ACSs who present without chest pain are frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated. With the exception of diaphoresis, each dominant presenting symptom independently identifies a population that is at increased risk of dying. These patients experience greater morbidity and a higher mortality across the spectrum of ACSs.
Relation between previous Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use and in-hospital outcomes in acute coronary syndromes
(2012-02-01) Singh, Sheldon M.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Yan, Raymond T.; Dery, Jean-Pierre; Wong, Graham C.; Gallo, Richard; Grondin, Francois R.; Lai, Kevin; Lopez-Sendon, Jose; Fox, Keith A. A.; Yan, Andrew T.; Center for Outcomes Research
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use in patients at high risk of coronary artery disease has been associated with a decrease in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and death. However, it is unclear whether chronic use of these agents modifies the course and outcome of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study assessed the association between chronic use of ACE inhibitors and clinical outcomes in patients with ACS. From 1999 through 2008, 13,632 Canadian patients with ACS were identified in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), the expanded GRACE (GRACE(2)), and the Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CANRACE). Patients were stratified by previous use of an ACE inhibitor. Clinical characteristics, in-hospital treatment, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusting for GRACE risk score and other clinical factors was performed. Patients receiving an ACE inhibitor before the ACS had a higher prevalence of diabetes (40.6% vs 21.2%, p <0.001), previous MI (51.8% vs 23.3%, p <0.001), heart failure (18.0% vs 6.9%), and higher GRACE scores at presentation (133 vs 124, p <0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated no significant association between previous ACE inhibitor use and death (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.15, confidence interval [CI] 0.90 to 1.49, p = 0.27), in-hospital re-MI (adjusted OR 0.99, CI 0.78 to 1.25, p = 0.91), or the composite end point of death/re-MI (adjusted OR 1.01, CI 0.84 to 1.20, p = 0.94). In conclusion, previous use of an ACE inhibitor is not independently associated with improved in-hospital outcomes after an ACS.
The Association Between Prior Use of Aspirin and/or Warfarin and the In-hospital Management and Outcomes in Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights From the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE)
(2012-01-25) Amad, Hani; Yan, Andrew T.; Yan, Raymond T.; Huynh, Thao; Gore, Joel M.; Montalescot, Gilles; DeYoung, J. Paul; Gallo, Richard; Rose, Barry; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Goodman, Shaun G.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: The role of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA [aspirin]) and warfarin in secondary prevention after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is well established. However, there are sparse data comparing the presentation and outcomes of patients who present with ACS while on ASA and/or warfarin therapy and those on neither. METHODS: Using data from the Canadian Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), we stratified 14,090 ACS patients into 4 groups according to prior use of antithrombotic therapies and compared in-hospital management and outcomes. RESULTS: Among 14,090 ACS patients, 7411 (52.6%) were not on prior ASA or warfarin therapy, 5724 (40.6%) were on ASA only, 593 (4.2%) were on warfarin only, and 362 (2.6%) were on both ASA and warfarin. ACS patients taking ASA and/or warfarin were older with more comorbidities than the patients on neither drug. Patients receiving prior warfarin only or ASA and warfarin were less likely to receive guideline-recommended therapies. Patients who were taking prior warfarin only had higher unadjusted rates of death, death and/or reinfarction (re-MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and major bleeding as compared with patients on no prior therapy. Furthermore, patients who were taking ASA and warfarin had higher unadjusted rates of death and/or re-MI and CHF than patients on prior ASA only. CONCLUSIONS: ACS patients on prior warfarin are a high-risk population, yet they receive less guideline-recommended therapies and have higher unadjusted adverse event rates during their index hospitalization. With the increasing use of oral anticoagulants, clinical trials are needed to guide the optimal management of these ACS patients. Inc. All rights reserved.
Comparison of acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving versus not receiving chronic dialysis (from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE] Registry)
(2012-01-01) Gurm, Hitinder S.; Gore, Joel M.; Anderson, Frederick A. Jr.; Wyman, Allison; Fox, Keith A. A.; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Eagle, Kim A.; Center for Outcomes Research; Department of Surgery; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Patients with end-stage renal disease commonly develop acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Little is known about the natural history of ACS in patients receiving dialysis. We evaluated the presentation, management, and outcomes of patients with ACS who were receiving dialysis before presentation for an ACS and were enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) at 123 hospitals in 14 countries from 1999 to 2007. Of 55,189 patients, 579 were required dialysis at presentation. Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was the most common ACS presentation in patients receiving dialysis, occurring in 50% (290 of 579) of patients versus 33% (17,955 of 54,610) of those not receiving dialysis. Patients receiving dialysis had greater in-hospital mortality rates (12% vs 4.8%; p
Reperfusion Strategies and Outcomes of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients in Canada: Observations From the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) and the Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CANRACE)
(2012-01-02) Czarnecki, Andrew; Welsh, Robert C.; Yan, Raymond T.; DeYoung, J. Paul; Gallo, Richard; Rose, Barry; Grondin, Francois R.; Kornder, Jan; Wong, Graham C.; Fox, Keith A. A.; Gore, Joel M.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Yan, Andrew T.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: We examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients receiving various reperfusion therapies in 2 contemporary Canadian registries. METHODS: Of 4045 STEMI patients, 2024 received reperfusion therapy and had complete data on invasive management. They were stratified by reperfusion strategy used: primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n =716); fibrinolysis with rescue PCI (n =177); fibrinolysis with urgent/elective PCI (n =210); and fibrinolysis without PCI (n =921). Data were collected on clinical and laboratory findings, and outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with fibrinolytic-treated patients, patients treated with primary PCI were younger and had higher Killip class, had longer time to delivery of reperfusion therapy, and utilized more antiplatelet therapy but less heparin, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In-hospital death occurred in 2.7% of patients treated with primary PCI, 1.7% fibrinolysis-rescue PCI, 1.0% fibrinolysis-urgent/elective PCI, and 4.8% fibrinolysis-alone (P =0.009); the rates of death/reinfarction were 3.9%, 4.0%, 4.3%, and 7.1% (P =0.032), respectively. The rate of shock was highest in the primary PCI group. Rates of heart failure or major bleeding were similar in the 4 groups. In multivariable analysis, no PCI during hospitalization was associated with death and reinfarction (adjusted odds ratio = 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.70; P =0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features, time to reperfusion, and medication utilization differed with respect to the reperfusion strategy. While low rates of re-infarction/death were observed, these complications occurred more frequently in those who did not undergo PCI during index hospitalization. Inc. All rights reserved.
Rationale and design of the GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) Project: a multinational registry of patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes
(2001-02-15) GRACE Investigators; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including the spectrum of conditions from unstable angina to ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. GRACE (the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) is a large, prospective, multinational observational study of patients hospitalized with ACS. The aim of GRACE is to improve the quality of care for patients with ACS by describing differences in, and relationships between, patient characteristics, treatment practices, and in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes at hospitals around the world. A goal of this study is to study approximately 10,000 patients with ACS on an annual basis. METHODS: A total of 18 cluster sites in 14 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand are currently collaborating in GRACE. Clusters were chosen on the basis of local demographic characteristics and hospital facilities to ensure a representative sample of patients with ACS from each country. Patients are identified by use of either active or passive surveillance approaches. A standardized core case report form is completed for all patients. Information on patient demographics, medical history, acute symptoms, clinical characteristics, electrocardiographic findings, treatment approaches, and in-hospital outcomes is collected. Patients are followed up at 6 months after hospital discharge to identify recurrent coronary events, use of various medications, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The information collected from the GRACE project will provide important and extensive insights into patient demographic and clinical characteristics, current practice patterns, and outcomes for patients with ACS from a number of countries throughout the world. Given the pressures of practicing evidence-based medicine, the results of GRACE should provide a multinational perspective into these important outcomes and identify practice variations that will allow new opportunities to improve patient care.
Prehospital Delay in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes (from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events [GRACE])
(2009-02-24) Goldberg, Robert J.; Spencer, Frederick A.; Fox, Keith A. A.; Brieger, David; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Gurfinkel, Enrique P.; Dedrick, Rebecca; Gore, Joel M.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
Duration of delay in seeking medical care in persons with symptoms of evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is of current interest given the time-dependent benefits associated with early use of coronary reperfusion approaches. The objectives of this multinational study were to describe geographic variation in the extent of and factors associated with prehospital delay in patients enrolled in the GRACE study. Data were collected from 44,695 patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome in 14 countries from 2000 to 2006. The regions under study included Argentina and Brazil (n = 8,203), United States/Canada (n = 12,810), Europe (n = 19,354), and Australia/New Zealand (n = 4,328). Patients with ST-segment elevation AMI, non-ST-segment elevation AMI, and unstable angina comprised the study population. There were marked geographic differences in extent of prehospital delay in patients with ST-segment elevation AMI and those with non-ST-segment elevation AMI/unstable angina. In patients with ST-segment elevation AMI, the shortest duration of prehospital delay was observed in patients from Australia/New Zealand (median 2.2 hours), whereas patients from Argentina and Brazil delayed the longest (median 4.0 hours). Median duration of prehospital delay was shortest (2.5 hours) in patients with ST-segment elevation AMI, whereas patients with non-ST-segment elevation AMI/unstable angina showed considerably longer prehospital delay (3.1 hours). Several demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with prolonged delay overall and in the different geographic locations under study. In conclusion, results of this large multinational registry provided insights into contemporary patterns of care-seeking behavior in patients with acute coronary disease.
The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events, 1999 to 2009--GRACE
(2010-07-01) Fox, Keith A. A.; Eagle, Kim A.; Gore, Joel M.; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Anderson, Frederick A. Jr.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
The aim of GRACE was to provide a large multinational registry of the full spectrum of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in order to define patient characteristics and outcomes and derive predictive risk scores. The study was designed and administered by an independent steering committee; data analyses were performed under the guidance of the steering committee at the Center for Outcomes Research of the University of Massachusetts. Regular feedback regarding local, regional and international guideline and performance measures was provided to individual hospitals and clusters of hospitals. Regional and international benchmark data were available to all sites. Main GRACE involved 123 hospitals in 14 countries in North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. GRACE2 (Expanded GRACE) comprised 154 hospitals in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australasia and China. Continuous recruitment and follow-up took place between 1999 and 2009. The first 10 -20 patients per site (depending on hospital size) were enrolled each month, resulting in the recruitment of 102 341 patients, who were categorized as having ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Standardized case report forms (datafax or electronic) were completed by trained study coordinators, and included fields relating to demographic factors, comorbid conditions, treatments and in-hospital and post-discharge (6-month) events. Blood sampling, genetic analyses and longer-term follow-up were undertaken in GRACE substudies. Prospective individual patient follow-up was carried out. All sites were audited locally; 10% of individual patient records were audited in a 2-year cycle. Less than 1% of 20 key baseline fields, and less than 1% of discharge diagnosis and discharge status data, were missing. Six-month follow-up was 85% complete. Publications and risk scores are available at http://www.outcome.org/grace. Proposals for specific analyses were considered, in competition, by an independent publications committee.
Outcomes with the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes
(2008-02-19) Dabbous, Omar H.; Anderson, Frederick A. Jr.; Gore, Joel M.; Eagle, Kim A.; Fox, Keith A. A.; Mehta, Rajendra H.; Goldberg, Robert J.; Agnelli, Giancarlo; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) who would have been eligible for inclusion in clinical trials of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors with those of ineligible patients. DESIGN: Multinational, prospective, observational study (GRACE, Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events). SETTING: Patients hospitalised for a suspected acute coronary syndrome and enrolled in GRACE between April 1999 and December 2004. PATIENTS: 29 039 patients with NSTE ACS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Characteristics and outcomes were compared for trial-eligible (75.0%) and trial-ineligible (25.0%) patients. RESULTS: GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were administered to 20.0% of eligible and 15.3% of ineligible patients. Compared with eligible patients, ineligible patients who received GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors had significantly higher rates of hospital death (6.8% vs 3.7%) and major bleeding (4.9% vs 2.2%). After adjustment for their higher baseline risk, ineligible patients still experienced higher hospital death rates (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 2.39), but not higher bleeding rates, than the eligible group. Use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors was associated with a trend towards lower 6-month mortality in eligible (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.02) and ineligible (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.05) patients compared with those in whom this therapy was not used. CONCLUSIONS: GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were markedly underused in the real-world population, irrespective of whether patients were trial-eligible or not. Despite the higher risk of ineligible patients, the benefits of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors appear to be no less than in eligible patients.
An introduction to the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events: GRACE
(2000-01-01) Fox, Keith A. A.; Center for Outcomes Research
The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) study is a multinational, prospective, observational study of clinical management practices and patient outcomes across the full spectrum of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). By describing treatment practices and providing data to cardiologists, GRACE aims to enhance understanding of patient management and outcomes, both on an individual hospital level and from a global perspective.
Management and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndromes in Australia and New Zealand, 2000-2007
(2011-08-03) Aliprandi-Costa, Bernadette; Ranasinghe, Isuru; Chow, Vincent; Kapila, Shruti; Juergens, Craig; Devlin, Gerard; Elliott, John; Lefkowitz, Jeff; Brieger, David; Center for Outcomes Research
OBJECTIVES: To describe temporal trends in the use of evidence-based medical therapies and management of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Australia and New Zealand. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Our analysis of the Australian and New Zealand cohort of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) included patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment-elevation ACS (NSTEACS) enrolled continuously between January 2000 and December 2007 from 11 metropolitan and rural centres in Australia and New Zealand. RESULTS: 5615 patients were included in this analysis (1723 with STEMI; 3892 with NSTEACS). During 2000-2007 there was an increase in the use of statin therapy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and thienopyridines (P < 0.0001 for each). Among patients with STEMI, there was an increase in emergency revascularisation with PCI (from 11% to 27% [P < 0.0001]), and inhospital coronary angiography (from 61% to 76% [P < 0.0001]). Among patients with NSTEACS, there was an increase in revascularisation with PCI (from 20% to 25% [P = 0.004]). Heart failure rates declined substantially among STEMI and NSTEACS patients (from 21% to 12% [P = 0.0002], and from 13% to 4% [P < 0.0001], respectively) as did rates of hospital readmission for ischaemic heart disease at 6 months (from 23% to 9% [P = 0.0001], and from 24% to 15% [P = 0.0001], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: From 2000 to 2007 in Australia and New Zealand, there was a fall in inhospital events and 6-month readmissions among patients admitted with ACS. This showed an association with improved uptake of guideline-recommended medical and interventional therapies. These data suggest an overall improvement in the quality of care offered to contemporary ACS patients in Australia and New Zealand.
Lessons from GRACE: the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events
(2002-05-01) Eagle, Kim A.; Center for Outcomes Research
Several coronary heart disease registries have gathered data on specific aspects of heart disease, but none has looked at the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes. Since June 1999, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) has been collecting clinical data on patients with unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. GRACE gathers data from 94 hospitals in 14 countries on current practices of care provided to patients with acute coronary syndromes. This report reviews the origins, values and limitations of disease registries; summarizes the objectives of GRACE; and presents preliminary data obtained in the first 13,000-plus patients enrolled in the registry.
Comparison of Characteristics, Management Practices, and Outcomes of Patients Between the Global Registry and the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events
(2011-08-30) Awad, Hamza H.; Zubaid, Mohammad; Alsheikh-Ali, Alawi A.; Al Suwaidi, Jassim; Anderson, Frederick A. Jr.; Gore, Joel M.; Goldberg, Robert J.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
The Arab Middle East is a unique region of the developing world where little is known about the outcomes of patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), despite playing an important role in the global burden of cardiovascular disease. The primary objectives of this observational study were to compare patients with ACS hospitalized in the Arab Middle East to patients enrolled in a multinational non-Arabian ACS registry. The study cohort consisted of patients hospitalized in 2007 with an ACS including 4,445 from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) and 6,706 from the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE). Average age of patients in Gulf RACE was nearly a decade younger than that in GRACE (56 vs 66 years). Patients in Gulf RACE were more likely to be men, diabetic, and smoke and less likely to be hypertensive compared to patients in GRACE. Patients in Gulf RACE had higher odds of receiving aspirin and a lower likelihood of receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, and clopidogrel during their index hospitalization. Although most eligible patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Gulf RACE received thrombolytics, most of their counterparts in GRACE underwent a primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Multivariable adjusted in-hospital case-fatality rates were not significantly different between patients in Gulf RACE and those in GRACE. In conclusion, despite differences in patient characteristics and treatment practices, short-term mortality rates were comparable in patients with ACS enrolled in these 2 registries. Future studies should explore the effects of these differences on long-term prognosis and other pertinent patient outcomes.
Management of acute coronary syndromes. Variations in practice and outcome; findings from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE)
(2002-07-20) Fox, Keith A. A.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Klein, Werner; Brieger, David; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Dabbous, Omar H.; Avezum, Alvaro; GRACE Investigators; Center for Outcomes Research
AIMS: Despite advances in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes based on randomized trial data and published guidelines, the extent to which such treatments are applied in practice remains uncertain. Data from clinical trials derive from selected geographical areas and in highly selected populations of patients, and hence may not reflect the overall population. The aim of the study was to investigate variations in hospital management and outcome using unselected data collected in the prospective Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE). METHODS AND RESULTS: The 95 hospitals in GRACE were organized into 18 population-based clusters in 14 countries. Information was recorded about patient management and outcome during hospitalization and after discharge. Data on treatments administered were analysed by baseline condition, hospital type, by the presence or absence of a catheterization laboratory, and by geographical region. Of 11543 patients, 44% had an admission diagnosis of unstable angina, 36% presented with myocardial infarction, 9% were admitted to rule out a myocardial infarction, 7% had chest pain and 4% were hospitalized for 'other cardiac' and 'non-cardiac' diagnoses. Of the total GRACE population 38% had a final diagnosis of unstable angina, 30% ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 25% non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and 7% of 'other cardiac' and 'non-cardiac' final diagnoses. The event rates for hospital death or reinfarction were six and 2% for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, seven and 3% for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and 3% hospital death for unstable angina. The use of aspirin was similar across all hospital types and geographical regions. In contrast, the use of percutaneous coronary intervention and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors was higher (P<0.0001) in teaching hospitals and hospitals with catheterization laboratories and was also higher in the United States. At discharge a higher percentage (P<0.0001) of patients received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in hospitals without catheterization laboratories. The use of statins was lower in non-teaching hospitals and in centres without a catheterization laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: The GRACE study reveals substantial differences in the management of patients based on hospital type and geographical location. Further analyses will determine whether such variations translate into differences in longer term outcomes. GRACE provides a multinational reference for the implementation of therapies of proven efficacy. Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Practice variation and missed opportunities for reperfusion in ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction: findings from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE)
(2002-02-15) Eagle, Kim A.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Avezum, Alvaro; Budaj, Andrzej; Sullivan, Cynthia M.; López-Sendón, José; GRACE Investigators; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: The benefits of reperfusion therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes have been established, but there is much variation in the type of reperfusion given and decisions about which patients are eligible. This study assessed current practices in relation to reperfusion therapy of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction from data collected in the multinational, prospective Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events. METHODS: 94 hospitals in 14 countries are recruiting patients for the registry. Hospitals are organised into population-based clusters that reflect the population characteristics of the region. Information about patients' demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, medical history, time between symptom onset and presentation, and clinical and electrocardiographic features is recorded in a standard case record. FINDINGS: Of the 9251 patients enrolled, 1763 presented within 12 h of symptom onset with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Of these, 30% did not receive reperfusion therapy. Elderly patients (75 years and older), those presenting without chest pain, and those with a history of diabetes, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or coronary bypass surgery were less likely to receive reperfusion therapy. The rate of primary percutaneous coronary intervention was highest in the USA and lowest in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The rate at sites with a catheterisation laboratory was 19% compared with zero at sites without this facility. INTERPRETATION: A substantial proportion of patients who are eligible for reperfusion therapy still do not receive this treatment. These typically high-risk patients can be identified in advance, and reasons for the underuse of these beneficial treatments need to be clarified.
Use of Clopidogrel Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Canadian Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
(Pulsus Group, Inc., 2011-08-27) Krimly, Ahmed; Yan, Raymond T.; Yan, Andrew T.; DeYoung, J. Paul; Gallo, Richard; Steg, Gabriel; Eikelboom, John; Gore, Joel M.; Fox, Keith A. A.; Fitchett, David; Quantz, Mackenzie A.; Goodman, Shaun G.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
BACKGROUND: Randomized trials have established the efficacy of clopidogrel in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The benefit of clopidogrel has also been observed in the subgroup of ACS patients who subsequently undergo coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG); however, this therapy is discontinued preoperatively and the frequency with which clopidogrel is restarted post-CABG is unknown. METHODS: We examined the pattern of clopidogrel use in the Canadian Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), GRACE2, and CANRACE (2003-2008) post-CABG ACS patients. We stratified the patients according to whether they underwent CABG during their index hospitalization for ACS and whether they were prescribed clopidogrel at discharge. RESULTS: Among those patients in whom clopidogrel status at discharge was known, 5904 (60%) of 9841 were discharged from hospital on clopidogrel. Use of clopidogrel at discharge was observed in 2222 (40.8%) of 5443 patients who were medically managed (ie, did not undergo percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] or CABG) and in 3585 (90.1%) of 3980 patients who underwent in-hospital PCI. Overall, 455 (3.3%) of 13,776 patients underwent CABG during the index hospitalization; 255 (56%) patients were started on clopidogrel during the first 24 hours, and 66 of these patients (25.9%) were discharged on clopidogrel. In contrast, 5681 (61.3%) of the 9262 patients who did not undergo in-hospital CABG were discharged on clopidogrel. CONCLUSIONS: Although current guidelines recommend the use of clopidogrel post-CABG in patients with ACS, our observations suggest that only 1 in 4 or 5 Canadian patients are discharged on this therapy.
Strategies of patient care in acute coronary syndromes: rationale for the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) registry
(2001-02-24) Granger, Christopher B.; Center for Outcomes Research
An abundance of evidence is available from large, randomized clinical trials supporting the efficacy of therapies for the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes. For ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), a variety of databases can be used to assess how these therapies, both pharmacologic and invasive, are being integrated into real practice. Little information is available, however, with regard to how newer treatments are actually being implemented for patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation MI. There are several important issues to consider in evaluating current treatment practices for acute coronary syndromes, including limitations of clinical trial databases, a trend toward progressive shortening of length of hospital stay, and variations in the availability of resources among treatment centers. In response to the need for a broader database that would address the global impact of clinical management practices in acute coronary syndromes, the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) Registry has been established. The GRACE Registry will initially collect data on patient care from a variety of treatment centers in 14 countries, the plan being to eventually enroll 10,000 patients per year. This international observational database will obtain information on the complete spectrum of acute coronary syndromes, with the specific goals of describing diagnostic and treatment strategies, determining hospital outcomes, improving quality of care, and developing hypotheses for future clinical research.
Has the frequency of bleeding changed over time for patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome? The global registry of acute coronary events
(2010-03-17) Fox, Keith A. A.; Carruthers, Kathryn F.; Steg, Phillippe Gabriel; Avezum, Alvaro; Granger, Christopher B.; Montalescot, Gilles; Goodman, Shaun G.; Gore, Joel M.; Quill, Ann L.; Eagle, Kim A.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
AIMS: To determine whether changes in practice, over time, are associated with altered rates of major bleeding in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients from the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events were enrolled between 2000 and 2007. The main outcome measures were frequency of major bleeding, including haemorrhagic stroke, over time, after adjustment for patient characteristics, and impact of major bleeding on death and myocardial infarction. Of the 50 947 patients, 2.3% sustained a major bleed; almost half of these presented with ST-elevation ACS (44%, 513). Despite changes in antithrombotic therapy (increasing use of low molecular weight heparin, P < 0.0001), thienopyridines (P < 0.0001), and percutaneous coronary interventions (P < 0.0001), frequency of major bleeding for all ACS patients decreased (2.6 to 1.8%; P < 0.0001). Most decline was seen in ST-elevation ACS (2.9 to 2.1%, P = 0.02). The overall decline remained after adjustment for patient characteristics and treatments (P = 0.002, hazard ratio 0.94 per year, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.98). Hospital characteristics were an independent predictor of bleeding (P < 0.0001). Patients who experienced major bleeding were at increased risk of death within 30 days from admission, even after adjustment for baseline variables. CONCLUSION: Despite increasing use of more intensive therapies, there was a decline in the rate of major bleeding associated with changes in clinical practice. However, individual hospital characteristics remain an important determinant of the frequency of major bleeding.
Stenting and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: findings from the global registry of acute coronary events (GRACE)
(2003-10-23) Montalescot, Gilles; Van de Werf, Frans; Gulba, Dietrich C.; Avezum, Alvaro; Brieger, David; Kennelly, Brian M.; Mazurek, Tomasz; Spencer, Frederick A.; White, Kami; Gore, Joel M.; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Center for Outcomes Research
Stenting and GP IIb/IIIa inhibition are promising adjunctive therapies in PCI. The Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) is a registry of unselected patients with acute coronary syndromes, allowing for the study of treatments in a real-world environment. Data from GRACE patients with AMI who underwent PCI were analyzed. After adjusting for demographics, baseline characteristics, and previous medications, treatment with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and a stent and treatment with a stent alone were significant predictors of survival at 6 months. Stents were used in 90.9% of patients. GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in 59.7%; in most cases they were started after the beginning of the procedure. The in-hospital death rate (7.6%) was highest in patients undergoing urgent PCI. Mortality at 6 months following PCI was 14.4% among patients who received neither GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors nor a stent, compared to patients who received both GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and a stent (7.3%), GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors alone (12.8%), or a stent alone (6.7%).

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