![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 30-Jan-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Amanda Jekowsky
ajekowsk@acc.org
202-375-6645
American College of Cardiology
Appropriate use criteria will help physicians select treatments for patients
WASHINGTON, DC (January 30, 2012) Updated appropriate use criteria released today offer detailed guidance on when to use an invasive procedure to improve blood flow to the heart and how to choose the best procedure for each patient. The clinical scenarios, written by a group of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, affirm the role of revascularization for patients with acute coronary syndromes and significant symptoms.
"This document helps patients, physicians, and payers determine when it's reasonable to do a procedure that is intended to improve the patient's quality of life, health status, and long-term survival," said Manesh Patel, M.D., the John Bush Simpson Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Duke University in Durham, NC, and lead author of the updated appropriate use criteria. "It can also assist patients and physicians with health-related discussions and shared decision-making, so that patients are confident they are getting the right procedures for them."
The updated appropriate use criteria replace a previous set published in 2009. Both documents were jointly developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American Heart Association, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, and Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. They have been endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography and Heart Rhythm Society.
When developing the 2009 appropriate use criteria, the writing group identified nearly 200 clinical scenarios that reflect common heart problems seen in everyday cardiology practice. These scenarios were rated by an expert panel composed of interventional cardiologists, heart surgeons, non-interventional cardiologists, other physicians who treat patients with cardiovascular disease, health outcomes researchers, and a medical officer from a health plan. Panelists assigned a score using a modified Delphi exercise to each scenario indicating whether an invasive procedure to restore blood flow to the heart would be considered appropriate, inappropriate, or uncertain. An essential component in evaluating each clinical scenario is whether clinical studies have shown the procedure would be likely to improve patients' survival or quality of life. The rating takes into account such factors as symptoms, medication, results of stress testing, severity of disease burden, and number of coronary blockages.
New clinical data and gaps identified in data collection spurred the update of the appropriate use criteria, Dr. Patel said. "This update provides a reassessment of clinical scenarios the writing group believed to be affected by significant changes in the medical literature or gaps from prior criteria," he said. "For example, publication of the SYNTAX trial called for the reexamination of clinical scenarios for multi-vessel coronary artery disease, and implementation efforts revealed a few scenarios not captured in the 2009 publication."
When a patient's coronary arteries become clogged with deposits of cholesterol and fat, the heart muscle may not get enough blood flow to function properly. The result can be chest pain or even a heart attack. If medication and lifestyle changes alone are not enough, physicians and patients must decide whether to improve blood flow with bypass surgery or catheter-based angioplasty and stenting. That decision is based not only on a patient's overall health and personal preferences, but also on which arteries are clogged and how severely.
Symptom status, extent of medical therapy, risk level as assessed by noninvasive testing and coronary anatomy all play a critical role in decision making. The appropriate use criteria scenarios were developed to mimic patient presentations encountered in everyday practice and to address the rational use of coronary revascularization in the delivery of high-quality care. Appropriate revascularization procedures can improve patients' clinical outcomes, whereas inappropriate revascularization exposes patients to unwarranted risk and increases costs to the health care system.
Peter K. Smith, M.D., Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University and co-author of the new criteria, said, "The new ratings that have changed PCI from inappropriate to uncertain for low burden left main disease, and from uncertain to appropriate for low burden three-vessel disease should result in careful selection of high-risk surgery patients for PCI. Surgeons and cardiologists will now work together to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk for these patients who are at high risk for premature mortality."
The updated criteria reaffirm that coronary artery bypass is appropriate for patient scenarios with coronary artery disease involving two vessels to include the proximal LAD and all variations of three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease. PCI is appropriate in patients with coronary artery disease in all three heart arteries only if the severity of coronary artery disease burden is low. It is uncertain whether PCI is appropriate in patients with three- vessel coronary artery disease and an intermediate to high disease burden. The appropriateness of PCI is also deemed uncertain in patients with blockages in the left main coronary artery, alone or with blockages in other arteries and low coronary artery disease burden. However, PCI is considered inappropriate in patients with blockages in the left main coronary artery with intermediate to high disease burden, according to the new criteria.
"A rating of uncertain does not mean that it's not reasonable or should not be done," Dr. Patel said. "These are areas where we don't have definitive evidence and think more research is needed. Remember, the majority of medicine may be considered uncertain by this evidence standard for improvement in health status or longevity. That's where physicians apply their clinical experience and knowledge to patient care and patients express their wishes."
Dr. Patel said the new appropriate use criteria will stimulate discussion regarding appropriate use of revascularization: "We hope physicians, surgeons, caregivers, and patients have a conversation in each individual case about the best way to improve patient outcomes."
The appropriate use criteria will be published in the February 28, 2012, issue the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and will be available before print on Monday, January 30, at 2 pm ET at www.cardiosource.org. The document will also be published in upcoming issues of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The document will also appear online at www.SCAI.org.
###
The American College of Cardiology is transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. The College is a 39,000-member nonprofit medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers and bestows credentials among cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the association is available online at http://cardiosource.org/ACC.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in more than 60 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's patient and physician education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease. For more information about SCAI and Seconds Count, visit www.scai.org or www.secondscount.org.
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 6,300 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The mission of the Society is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy. Learn more at www.sts.org.
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization of over 1,100 of the world's foremost thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, representing 35 countries. AATS encourages and stimulates education and investigation into the areas of intrathoracic physiology, pathology and therapy. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the last century's earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery, the AATS' original mission was to "foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax." One hundred years later, the AATS continues to be the premiere association among cardiothoracic surgeons. The purpose of the Association is the continual enhancement of the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest level of quality patient care. To this end, the AATS encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation and study of cardiothoracic surgery. Visit www.aats.org.
The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.heart.org.
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is the leader in education, advocacy, and quality for the field of nuclear cardiology. Serving 4,600 individuals in over 50 countries, ASNC is the only professional association dedicated to the dynamic subspecialty of nuclear cardiology. To learn more, visit www.asnc.org.
The Heart Failure Society of America is the primary North American organization with a focus on the prevention and treatment of heart failure. Our goal is to function as the primary advocate for preventing and improving the outcomes of heart failure patients by:
- Advancing recognition for individuals with specialized training/certification in heart failure,
- Eliminating barriers for appropriately trained professionals to treat heart failure patients,
- Minimizing disparities in delivery of heart failure care and enhance availability of cost-effective modalities for care of heart failure patients,
- Increasing resources for research and appropriate approaches and interventions for the prevention and management of heart failure
The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) is the professional society devoted exclusively to cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT). With a membership of approximately 3,000, it is acknowledged and recognized as the representative and advocate for research, education, and clinical excellence in the use of cardiovascular computed tomography. For more information on the Society's Mission and Goals, please see the SCCT Website at: www.SCCT.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 30-Jan-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Amanda Jekowsky
ajekowsk@acc.org
202-375-6645
American College of Cardiology
Appropriate use criteria will help physicians select treatments for patients
WASHINGTON, DC (January 30, 2012) Updated appropriate use criteria released today offer detailed guidance on when to use an invasive procedure to improve blood flow to the heart and how to choose the best procedure for each patient. The clinical scenarios, written by a group of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, affirm the role of revascularization for patients with acute coronary syndromes and significant symptoms.
"This document helps patients, physicians, and payers determine when it's reasonable to do a procedure that is intended to improve the patient's quality of life, health status, and long-term survival," said Manesh Patel, M.D., the John Bush Simpson Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Duke University in Durham, NC, and lead author of the updated appropriate use criteria. "It can also assist patients and physicians with health-related discussions and shared decision-making, so that patients are confident they are getting the right procedures for them."
The updated appropriate use criteria replace a previous set published in 2009. Both documents were jointly developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American Heart Association, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, and Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. They have been endorsed by the American Society of Echocardiography and Heart Rhythm Society.
When developing the 2009 appropriate use criteria, the writing group identified nearly 200 clinical scenarios that reflect common heart problems seen in everyday cardiology practice. These scenarios were rated by an expert panel composed of interventional cardiologists, heart surgeons, non-interventional cardiologists, other physicians who treat patients with cardiovascular disease, health outcomes researchers, and a medical officer from a health plan. Panelists assigned a score using a modified Delphi exercise to each scenario indicating whether an invasive procedure to restore blood flow to the heart would be considered appropriate, inappropriate, or uncertain. An essential component in evaluating each clinical scenario is whether clinical studies have shown the procedure would be likely to improve patients' survival or quality of life. The rating takes into account such factors as symptoms, medication, results of stress testing, severity of disease burden, and number of coronary blockages.
New clinical data and gaps identified in data collection spurred the update of the appropriate use criteria, Dr. Patel said. "This update provides a reassessment of clinical scenarios the writing group believed to be affected by significant changes in the medical literature or gaps from prior criteria," he said. "For example, publication of the SYNTAX trial called for the reexamination of clinical scenarios for multi-vessel coronary artery disease, and implementation efforts revealed a few scenarios not captured in the 2009 publication."
When a patient's coronary arteries become clogged with deposits of cholesterol and fat, the heart muscle may not get enough blood flow to function properly. The result can be chest pain or even a heart attack. If medication and lifestyle changes alone are not enough, physicians and patients must decide whether to improve blood flow with bypass surgery or catheter-based angioplasty and stenting. That decision is based not only on a patient's overall health and personal preferences, but also on which arteries are clogged and how severely.
Symptom status, extent of medical therapy, risk level as assessed by noninvasive testing and coronary anatomy all play a critical role in decision making. The appropriate use criteria scenarios were developed to mimic patient presentations encountered in everyday practice and to address the rational use of coronary revascularization in the delivery of high-quality care. Appropriate revascularization procedures can improve patients' clinical outcomes, whereas inappropriate revascularization exposes patients to unwarranted risk and increases costs to the health care system.
Peter K. Smith, M.D., Professor and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University and co-author of the new criteria, said, "The new ratings that have changed PCI from inappropriate to uncertain for low burden left main disease, and from uncertain to appropriate for low burden three-vessel disease should result in careful selection of high-risk surgery patients for PCI. Surgeons and cardiologists will now work together to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk for these patients who are at high risk for premature mortality."
The updated criteria reaffirm that coronary artery bypass is appropriate for patient scenarios with coronary artery disease involving two vessels to include the proximal LAD and all variations of three-vessel and left main coronary artery disease. PCI is appropriate in patients with coronary artery disease in all three heart arteries only if the severity of coronary artery disease burden is low. It is uncertain whether PCI is appropriate in patients with three- vessel coronary artery disease and an intermediate to high disease burden. The appropriateness of PCI is also deemed uncertain in patients with blockages in the left main coronary artery, alone or with blockages in other arteries and low coronary artery disease burden. However, PCI is considered inappropriate in patients with blockages in the left main coronary artery with intermediate to high disease burden, according to the new criteria.
"A rating of uncertain does not mean that it's not reasonable or should not be done," Dr. Patel said. "These are areas where we don't have definitive evidence and think more research is needed. Remember, the majority of medicine may be considered uncertain by this evidence standard for improvement in health status or longevity. That's where physicians apply their clinical experience and knowledge to patient care and patients express their wishes."
Dr. Patel said the new appropriate use criteria will stimulate discussion regarding appropriate use of revascularization: "We hope physicians, surgeons, caregivers, and patients have a conversation in each individual case about the best way to improve patient outcomes."
The appropriate use criteria will be published in the February 28, 2012, issue the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and will be available before print on Monday, January 30, at 2 pm ET at www.cardiosource.org. The document will also be published in upcoming issues of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The document will also appear online at www.SCAI.org.
###
The American College of Cardiology is transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health through continuous quality improvement, patient-centered care, payment innovation and professionalism. The College is a 39,000-member nonprofit medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers and bestows credentials among cardiovascular specialists who meet its stringent qualifications. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines, and is a staunch supporter of cardiovascular research. The ACC provides professional education and operates national registries for the measurement and improvement of quality care. More information about the association is available online at http://cardiosource.org/ACC.
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,000-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in more than 60 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's patient and physician education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease. For more information about SCAI and Seconds Count, visit www.scai.org or www.secondscount.org.
Founded in 1964, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 6,300 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lung, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest. The mission of the Society is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research, and advocacy. Learn more at www.sts.org.
The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization of over 1,100 of the world's foremost thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, representing 35 countries. AATS encourages and stimulates education and investigation into the areas of intrathoracic physiology, pathology and therapy. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the last century's earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery, the AATS' original mission was to "foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax." One hundred years later, the AATS continues to be the premiere association among cardiothoracic surgeons. The purpose of the Association is the continual enhancement of the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest level of quality patient care. To this end, the AATS encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation and study of cardiothoracic surgery. Visit www.aats.org.
The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.heart.org.
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) is the leader in education, advocacy, and quality for the field of nuclear cardiology. Serving 4,600 individuals in over 50 countries, ASNC is the only professional association dedicated to the dynamic subspecialty of nuclear cardiology. To learn more, visit www.asnc.org.
The Heart Failure Society of America is the primary North American organization with a focus on the prevention and treatment of heart failure. Our goal is to function as the primary advocate for preventing and improving the outcomes of heart failure patients by:
- Advancing recognition for individuals with specialized training/certification in heart failure,
- Eliminating barriers for appropriately trained professionals to treat heart failure patients,
- Minimizing disparities in delivery of heart failure care and enhance availability of cost-effective modalities for care of heart failure patients,
- Increasing resources for research and appropriate approaches and interventions for the prevention and management of heart failure
The Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) is the professional society devoted exclusively to cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT). With a membership of approximately 3,000, it is acknowledged and recognized as the representative and advocate for research, education, and clinical excellence in the use of cardiovascular computed tomography. For more information on the Society's Mission and Goals, please see the SCCT Website at: www.SCCT.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/acoc-nau013012.php
torrey smith torrey smith packers bears boeing 787 johnny appleseed scrimshaw jacoby ellsbury
