Among older Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with AMI, 26.8% were ineligible for any of six common quality indicators, with the proportion excluded increasing in successively older age groups.
Observational (n=149,996)
Yes
OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of older patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) incorporated in a commonly used set of AMI quality indicators. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a medical record database. SETTING: Nongovernmental U.S. acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare patients hospitalized for AMI between January 1994 and February 1996. MEASUREMENTS: Proportion of patients aged 65 and older classified as ideal candidates (without absolute or relative contraindications) for six Centers for Medicare this proportion increased with age, ranging from 23.7% of patients aged 65 to 69 to 30.2% of patients aged 85 and older. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of older patients were not included in AMI process quality measurement, with the proportion excluded higher in successively older age groups. The data highlight the need for additional research to determine effective treatment strategies for patients for whom the evidence base for clinical decision-making remains weak.
Rathore et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (n=149,996). Eligibility for AMI quality indicators was evaluated on Proportion of patients classified as ideal candidates for six CMS AMI quality indicators. Among older Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with AMI, 26.8% were ineligible for any of six common quality indicators, with the proportion excluded increasing in successively older age groups.