Preoperative Cardiology Consultation and the Incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events（MACE）

Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Unstable Angina (UA); Cardiac Death, Sudden; Heart Failure (HF); Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI); Cardiac Arrest (CA); Major Adverse Cardiac Events; Arrhythmia, Cardiac

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06884436

PLAGH-AOC-L05

Details and patient eligibility

About

This cohort study aims to determine when preoperative cardiology consultation is needed to reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The study collected data on elderly patients with preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) results who underwent non-cardiac surgery. It was conducted at the First Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2015 to August 2019. MACE was defined as a composite event occurring within 30 days postoperatively, including acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, new-onset severe arrhythmias, non-fatal cardiac arrest, and cardiac death. Data were extracted using structured query language (SQL) and reviewed by three experienced clinicians. Preoperative cardiology consultation was considered as a mediating variable. By modeling, the confounding factors and risk factors for MACE were identified, and the impact of cardiology consultation as a mediating factor on the incidence of postoperative MACE was evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to identify which categories of ECG findings necessitate cardiology consultation to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events, thereby optimizing the cardiology consultation process.

Full description

Background Preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the important methods for perioperative assessment. It can reflect the patient's cardiac condition to a certain extent and indicate the potential risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). When a patient has an abnormal preoperative ECG, the standard medical procedure is to consult with a cardiologist to assess cardiac risk and adjust cardiac function, thereby reducing the incidence of adverse cardiac events. However, some studies suggest that cardiology consultation may delay surgery for elderly fracture patients and that consultation does not affect the prognosis of some abdominal surgery patients. Conversely, other studies indicate that cardiology consultation can reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing major vascular surgery. Additionally, when the patient has a normal ECG, cardiology consultation is usually not provided. Yet, elderly patients often have multiple chronic diseases, and a normal ECG does not completely rule out cardiac problems, which significantly increases the incidence of adverse cardiac events. Therefore, identifying risk factors to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events in elderly non-cardiac surgery patients is particularly important.

Objectives:

To investigate the circumstances in which preoperative cardiology consultation is needed to reduce the incidence rate of MACE.

Methods:

MACE was defined as the composite of acute myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, heart failure (HF), new-onset severe arrhythmia, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and cardiac death, occurring during or within 30 days following non-cardiac surgery. MACE cases were identified by reviewing medical records. Structured query language (SQL) was employed to extract relevant data elements, including postoperative biochemical tests, electrocardiograms (ECGs), coronary angiograms, postoperative progress notes, and consultation reports. Patients could experience multiple MACE events. Three experienced clinicians conducted independent evaluations of complications. Any discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus. This cohort study involved non-cardiac surgery patients from the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, covering the period from January 2015 to August 2019. Preoperative cardiology consultation was considered as a mediating variable. By modeling, the confounding factors and risk factors for MACE were identified, and the impact of cardiology consultation as a mediating factor on the incidence of postoperative MACE was evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to identify which categories of ECG findings necessitate cardiology consultation to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events, thereby optimizing the cardiology consultation process.

Enrollment: 22,000 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 65 years;
• Preoperative ECG results available.

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 65 years;
• Accepted cardiac or neuro surgery;
• Second surgery within 30 days post-operation;
• Patient refused to follow up.

Trial design

22,000 participants in 1 patient group

Risk Predictors of Major Adverse Cardiac Events

Description:

Identify risk factors through the incidence of major adverse cardiac events occurring within 30 days post-surgery, and analyze the benefits to patients through the intervention of cardiology consultations.