title: Epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to Italian Intensive Cardiac Care units: the BLITZ-3 registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intensive cardiac care units (ICCUs) have shifted from the observation of patients with myocardial infarction to the care of different acute cardiac diseases. However, few data on such an evolution are available.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 7 to 20 April 2008, 6986 consecutive patients admitted to 81% of Italian ICCUs were prospectively enrolled. Patients observed were mainly elderly men (median age 72 years) with several co-morbidities. Most of them were triaged to ICCU from the emergency room, but 15% of admissions were transfer-in from other hospitals. Several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were applied (78% had echocardiography and 35% coronary angiography) during the ICCU stay [median length 4 days, interquartile range (IQR) 2-5]. The discharge diagnosis was ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in 21%, non-ST-elevation ACS in 31%, acute heart failure (AHF) in 14% and other acute non-ACS, non-AHF cardiac diseases in 34%. Of those with ST-elevation ACS, 60% received reperfusion (15% fibrinolysis and 45% primary percutaneous coronary intervention). The overall in-ICCU crude mortality was 3.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BLITZ-3 survey provides a unique snapshot of current epidemiology and patterns of care of patients admitted to ICCUs. Although ACS still remains the most frequent admission diagnosis, the number of non-ACS patients is substantial. However, the correct standard of care for these non-ACS patients has to be defined.
authors: Cardiology Department, Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Casella
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Cassin
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Chiarella
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Chinaglia
authors: Maria R
authors: MR
authors: Conte
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Fradella
authors: Donata
authors: D
authors: Lucci
authors: Aldo P
authors: AP
authors: Maggioni
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Pirelli
authors: Giampaolo
authors: G
authors: Scorcu
authors: Luigi Oltrona
authors: LO
authors: Visconti
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D014218:Triage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data