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02/12/2024 - Press release

The Implementation of Healthcare Programs like the STEMI Code Reduces Mortality by 35%

A study by the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, in collaboration with the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), published in the Revista Española de Cardiología, validates the effectiveness of this type of initiative. Implementing out-of-hospital care programs reduces the fatality rate of heart attacks by 35% and long-term mortality by 27%.

Programs such as the STEMI Code, which aim to diagnose and treat myocardial infarctions early, can decrease fatality rates by 35% and long-term mortality by 27%, according to a study published in the Revista Española de Cardiología. The research, led by investigators from the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and the Cardiology Department at the hospital, in collaboration with UVic-UCC and the CIBER for Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV), involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on this topic.

The study is based on 32 previously published articles about the application of network models to optimize out-of-hospital diagnosis in myocardial infarction cases. "The conclusions support the implementation of regional networks to manage these cases as an effective strategy in the short and long term for these patients," explains Dr. Roberto Elosua, coordinator of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Genetics Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UVic-UCC. "In myocardial infarction, response time is vital. Every minute counts to save as much heart muscle as possible," Dr. Elosua adds.

Dr. Elosua

The conclusions are consistent across networks that rely on emergency transport systems, such as the Emergency Medical System (SEM) in Catalonia, as well as those involving the entire healthcare system, including primary care centers and hospitals without the capability to perform the recommended treatment for these cases, primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Dr. Elosua highlights that "the involvement of the emergency transport system is the key element for ensuring the success of these networks." The results are independent of the geographic and socioeconomic conditions of the region where they are applied, although greater effectiveness is observed in urban areas compared to rural ones.

Reference Article

Cartanya-Bonvehi J, Pericas-Vila A, Subirana I, García-García C, Tizón-Marcos H, Elosua R. Effectiveness of STEMI networks with out-of-hospital triage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2024 Aug 8:S1885-5857(24)00245-7. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.rec.2024.07.008 Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39121993.

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