title: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, systems of care. An urgent need for policies to co-ordinate care in order to decrease in-hospital mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regional trends for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treatment is not known in the state of Nevada.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Great disparity exists for treatment for STEMI in different geographical areas of Nevada. There is a great potential to improve treatment and outcomes of STEMI patients in the State of Nevada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Admissions to non-federal hospitals in the state of Nevada, using 2011 to 2013 discharge data from the Nevada State Inpatient Data Base (acquired from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality), were analyzed. Outpatient-onset STEMI patients were identified. The state of Nevada was divided into three divisions based on population densities, defined as population per square mile. Division A included counties with population density of <50 per square mile, Division B included counties with population density of 50 to 200 per square mile, and Division C included counties with population density of >200 per square mile. Trends in use of STEMI-related therapies and the impact on in-hospital mortality rates were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 20% of the patients with outpatient-onset STEMI do not get any STEMI-related therapy and have significantly higher mortality rate. Patients from Division A do not have direct access to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centers. These patients receive less STEMI-related therapies. Low-volume PCI centers had equivalent mortality rates for STEMI patients who got PCI, compared to high-volume PCI centers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policies must be created and processes streamlined so all STEMI patients in Nevada receive appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Ali Osama
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abela
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Office of Medical Research, 1701 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 230, Las Vegas, NV 89102, United States.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allenback
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Devabhaktuni
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Calvin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Aditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diep
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Public Health, United States.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: University of Nevada School of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, United States. Electronic address: chahsan92@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chowdhury
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahsan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009505:Nevada / Q000453:epidemiology; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000639:trends; D000072657:ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000639:trends
keywords: Geographical Barriers; Health Policy; In-hospital mortality; Myocardial Infarction; STEMI systems of care