A prospective observational study of treatment practice patterns in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in Europe

Background. - The AntiPlatelet Therapy Observational Registry (APTOR) was a prospective observational study of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in France, Spain, and the UK. Aims. - To evaluate patterns of ACS healthcare use, focusing on APTOR results from France. Methods. - Consecutive presenting ACS patients requiring PCI were recruited between January and August 2007. Treatments and outcomes were recorded from the qualifying ACS event to 12 months follow-up. Results. - In France, qualifying diagnosis was unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI) in 255 (53%) patients and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 228(47%) patients. Ninety-six percent underwent PCI with stent implantation. Drug eluting stents were used less frequently in France (22%) than Spain (54%) or the UK (42%). In France, antiplatelets were more frequently received in the ambulance (21%); a 200-299 mg aspirin-loading dose was most frequently received (50%) and more than a third of patients received a clopidogrel-loading dose of over 300 mg (34%). At 12 months in France, 86% were still receiving aspirin, 75% clopidogrel, and 73% combination treatment. Conclusion. - There was considerable country-variation in ACS management. These results provide a benchmark of physician practice to compare with guidelines. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.