Keywords
INTRODUCTION
Since 1992, the Sección de Hemodinámica y Cardiología Intervencionista de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology) has undertaken the creation of a registry of interventional activity in Spain, in both the public and private domains, as one of its most important undertakings. This registry is considered to be one of those most closely reflecting the state of coronary intervention in a European country, involving only a 1-year delay in production.
Health registries are an invaluable source of information regarding actual medical practice. They make it possible to compare regions, study temporal evolution and, based on this, assess performance in various health fields. The findings provide guidelines to help improve health care in its various aspects of research, prevention, treatment, and distribution of resources.
As in previous years,1-13 the 14th report published in the current Revista Española de Cardiología brings together data from almost all Spanish hospitals and can be considered fully representative of the activities carried out in Spain.
METHODS
Data collection for the Registry was done via a questionnaire (Appendix 1) sent to all the cardiac catheterization laboratories in Spain. This questionnaire was somewhat modified compared to previous ones and could be completed on paper, computer disk, or via the Working Group's website (www.hemodinamica.com). The participating laboratories were encouraged to use the latter method this year, as it is considered to be the ideal way to complete these types of registries. In contrast to the minimal use of the website in previous years, 50 centers (45% of the participants) used the Internet to complete the data (for 2004) and even greater use is expected in future years. As in previous years, the company Izasa collaborated both in the distribution and collection of the questionnaires, and the Working Group Governing Board was in charge of data analysis and responsible for the present publication.
The population data used for the different calculations of population-adjusted rates per million inhabitants, both at the national and regional level, were obtained from the estimation made for 2004 by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (www.ine.es). Spain was estimated to have a population of 43 197 684 in 2004.
RESULTS
Infrastructure and Resources
One hundred and twenty-one hospitals (Appendix 2) carrying out catheterization procedures in 2004 participated in the Registry, comprising 100% of the public centers (67 centers) and 88% of the private ones (43 of 49) performing such activities. Of the 121 centers, 110 carried out procedures mainly in adult patients, 19 of these included pediatric patients, and 11 centers treated pediatric patients only.
Hospitals for Adults
The 110 centers for adults have a total of 146 catheterization laboratories, of which 139 (95%) are fully computerized. The population-adjusted number of centers and laboratories is 2.55 and 3.38, respectively, per million inhabitants. Two or more catheterization laboratories are available in 35 centers. A system for the automatic quantification of coronary parameters is available in 91% of the centers. A total of 43 centers are private (39%) and the remaining 67 belong to the public health-care network (61%). Diagnostic and catheterization procedures are carried out in 99% of the hospitals. An emergency team is available 24 h a day in 67% of the centers (72% of the public centers and 59% of the private ones). Heart surgery is available in 76% of the centers (n=79). In a total of 31 centers non-surgical coronary interventions are carried out in the same hospital. Regarding staff, 347 physicians were working in 2004 (3.21/center; 8.01 specialists/106 inhabitants). The figure for 2004 matches the one for 1995 in Europe of 8 specialists/106 inhabitants.14 Although dated this is the last known figure for Europe. There were 409 nursing staff and 91 radiology/imaging technicians, with an average of 4.5 nursing staff or radiology technicians per center and 3.5 per laboratory (an average of 3.8 nursing staff or radiology technicians per laboratory in the public sector).
Pediatric Hospitals
A total of 11 centers treat pediatric patients only in 12 laboratories (9 computerized). All of them carry out coronary intervention and 6 (54%) are on 24-h standby. Staff comprise 24 physicians (2.2 per center) and 30 nursing staff (2.7 per center).
Diagnostic Procedures
In 2004, 111 451 diagnostic procedures were carried out in Spain, involving a 5.2% increase compared to 2003; 97 785 of these procedures were coronary angiograms, representing a 6.6% increase. Some 2263 coronary angiograms/106 inhabitants were performed. This figure continues to be similar to that of European countries such as Greece, Portugal, or Hungary according to the European Registry last published in 2001,15 whereas there continues to be a difference with figures from countries such as Germany (7462/106), Austria (4800/106), or France (3935/106).15 Figure 1 presents the distribution of diagnostic procedures in 2004 and its evolution since 1993. It should be emphasized that, although the increase in the number of coronary angiograms has been maintained as in previous registries, this increase has been less than in previous years, which suggests a leveling-out effect. A slight reduction has also been observed in the number of diagnostic procedures in valvular heart disease patients compared to 2003.
Figure 1. Evolution of the number and type of diagnostic procedure done between 1994 and 2004.
The number of procedures using the radial approach practically doubled compared to 2003. This approach was used in 20 244 procedures (20.7%), with a 95.4% increase compared to the previous year. Transcatheter closure devices (including diagnostic and therapeutic procedures) were used in 27 220 cases (a 32.4% increase compared to 2003), 17 977 (66%) with collagen, and 7349 (27%) with suture.
More than 1000 coronary angiograms/year were done in 45 centers (40.9%), 9 of which (8.2%) carried out more than 2000 coronary angiograms/year. On the other hand, 42 centers (38.2%) performed fewer than 500 coronary angiograms/year (Figure 2), only 8 of which were in the public sector (11.9%). There were 1013 diagnostic procedures per center and 719 per laboratory, which was practically identical to 2003. The average number of diagnostic procedures per room continues to be below the European average for 2001, with 1019 procedures per laboratory.15 In the public sector, 911 diagnostic procedures were carried out per laboratory. The number of coronary angiograms per center (902) was 4% higher than in 200313 but remains lower than the already dated figure for 1997 in most western European countries.16,17 It is also less than the 934 coronary angiograms/center recorded by the European Registry for 1999.17 It must be emphasized that, whereas private sector centers carried out 360 coronary angiograms/center, there were an average of 1234 coronary angiograms/center in the public sector.
Figure 2. Distribution of centers according to the number of coronary angiograms performed.
In 2004, the increase in the number of diagnostic procedures was basically due to the number of coronary angiograms. The number of congenital heart disease procedures also increased notably (14%; 701 procedures), whereas the number of procedures in valvular heart disease patients and other diagnostic procedures decreased.
In 2004, the notable difference in the number of coronary angiograms per million inhabitants was maintained among the different regions in Spain. Figure 3 shows the data for the regions. The statistical range was 1354 coronary angiograms per million inhabitants between regions.
Figure 3. Distribution of coronary angiograms per million inhabitants and regions.
Among the intracoronary diagnostic techniques, intracoronary ultrasound imaging underwent a 35% increase compared to 2003, with 2143 procedures. The use of intracoronary pressure guidewires underwent a 20% increase compared to 2003, with 1350 procedures. Intracoronary Doppler flow guidewire was used in numbers similar to those in previous years (95 cases).
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
During 2004, 45 469 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were done, involving a 12% increase compared to the previous year, with 1052 PCI per million inhabitants (Figure 4). This figure is higher than the one in the last European Registry for 2001 (990 coronary angioplasties/106 inhabitants), but is less than that of other leading countries in this context, such as (in descending order): Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, France, and The Netherlands, which in 2001 reached or surpassed 1500 PCI per million inhabitants.15 There was an average of 421 interventions per center performing catheterization procedures and 298 per laboratory. There were 129 interventions per interventionist. The European average for PCI per catheterization laboratory was 325 in 2001. There was an average of 149 PCI per center in the private sector and 594 in the public sector.
Figure 4. Evolution of the number of percutaneous coronary interventions between 1980 and 2004.
The percentage of PCI via coronary angiography in 2004 was 44.3% (44.6% in 2003), which was higher than the European average for 2001 (33%). At least 1 restenotic lesion was dealt with during the procedure in 6.3% of cases. In 2004, 13 050 multivessel procedures were carried out, representing 29% of total PCI, equal to 2003. Neither were there differences compared to 2003 regarding the percentage of procedures carried out during the same session as the diagnosis (78%; 35 496 procedures). The European average for PCI carried out in the same session as the diagnosis was 52% in 2001.15
The radial approach in PCI was used in 7407 cases (16.3%), 39% more than in 2003. There were 1215 PCI in vein grafts, 86.0% in saphenous veins and the remainder (14.0%) in mammary arteries. Some 1247 PCI were carried out in the left main coronary artery which was protected in 32.6% of cases.
Figure 5 shows the distribution of centers according to the number of PCI. As in previous years, the high number of centers carrying out less than 400 PCI per year (53%), or even less than 200 PCI/year (37%), remained steady. Nine centers carried out more than 1000 PCI in 2004. Figure 6 shows the number of PCI per million inhabitants in the different regions; the differences already indicated regarding diagnostic procedures was maintained. It is important to point out that, as in the case of coronary angiograms, in specific regions the high percentage of PCI is due to the fact that patients from other neighboring regions are treated in their centers.
Figure 5. Distribution of centers according to the number of percutaneous coronary interventions carried out in 2004.
Figure 6. Distribution of percutaneous coronary interventions per million inhabitants and regions.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used as adjuvant drug therapy in 13 231 procedures, representing a 6% decrease compared to 2003. Their use ranged from 0% to 97% in the different centers. Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was used in 902 cases and percutaneous heart-lung bypass in 6 cases.
Regarding the total outcomes for PCI, figures similar to those of previous years were maintained; 94.8% successful, 3.5% failure without complications, and 1.7% failure with complications, broken down into 1.0% mortality, 1.1% acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 0.1% emergency surgery.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Some 7326 PCI procedures in AMI were carried out, representing a 20.5% increase compared to 2003 and 16.1% of the total intervention procedures (Figure 7). Some 63.0% of the cases involved primary PCI (64.1% in 2003), 20.8% rescue PCI (26.2% in 2003), and 15.9% facilitated PCI (9.7% in 2003) (Figure 8). Of the facilitated coronary angioplasties, 82% can be considered "delayed" having been carried out after the acute phase of the AMI. The 4640 primary coronary angioplasties carried out represent a 19% increase compared to 2003. Although there are few data on the number of AMI meeting criteria for reperfusion therapy, the number of PCI for AMI continues to be low compared to the estimated >40 000 AMI patients admitted annually in Spain.18,19 A total of 91 centers carried out PCI for AMI. Although these centers performed an average of 79 interventions, the spread was considerable (Figure 9): 26 centers performed more than 100 PCI in the acute phase of the infarction and 38% performed less than 50. Figure 10 shows the number of PCI for AMI per million inhabitants in the different Spanish regions. Some 846 PCI were done in cardiogenic shock patients, representing 11.5% of the cases in AMI.
Figure 7. Percutaneous coronary interventions carried out in acute myocardial infarction. Evolution 1994-2004.
Figure 8. Percutaneous coronary interventions in acute myocardial infarction. Distribution of the type of intervention carried out and changes in percentages in total coronary interventions between 1995 and 2004.
Figure 9. Distribution of centers according to the number of percutaneous coronary interventions in acute myocardial infarction.
Figure 10. Distribution of percutaneous coronary interventions in acute myocardial infarction per million inhabitants and regions.
Stents
In 2004, as in previous years, stents were used in most procedures (41 581; 91.4%). The stent/procedure rati o was 1.51 (1.53 in 2003) with 68 892 stents being implanted. Some 25 148 drug-eluting stents were implanted representing 36.5% of the total number of implanted stents. Figure 11 shows the great difference in the use of this type of stent, ranging between 55.9% and 23.1% by region.
Figure 11. Distribution of the percentage of drug-eluting stents compared to the total number of stents implanted according to region.
Finally, 27 018 stents were implanted directly, without predilatation with balloon, representing 39.2% of implanted stents. Some 32.9% of the stenting procedures were done without predilatation. Table 1 shows how stenting has evolved in recent years.
Other Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Devices
Directional atherectomy was used in 3 procedures in 2 centers, exactly the same as in 2003, indicating the sparse use of this technique. Rotational atherectomy was used in 450 procedures in 33 centers, representing a 29% increase in use compared to 2003 (Table 2). The use of rotational atherectomy has returned to the same level as in 2000. Regarding other PCI devices, it should be noted that cutting balloon was used in 1344 cases, an increase of 25%, and devices to extract thrombotic material in 1215 procedures (a 63% increase). The increase in thrombus extraction devices has been much higher than the increase in PCI for AMI; this implies not only a greater number of procedures in AMI, but also greater use of these devices in these types of procedures. The use of distal embolic protection devices has remained close to 200 procedures (n=216), as in the 2 previous years. Ethanol ablation of the septal branch was carried out in 39 cases and fistula embolization in 16. Finally, the steady decrease in the use of brachytherapy in Spain compared to previous years should be highlighted. The 120 cases treated in 2002 dropped to 71 in 2003 and then to 55 in 2004. Some 58 restenotic lesions, but no de novo lesions, were treated successfully without complications in 100% of cases.
Non-Coronary Percutaneous Interventions in Adults
In 2004, 427 valvuloplasties were carried out in adults in 57 centers, representing an 8% decrease compared to 2003. This occurred due to the number of mitral valvuloplasties decreasing from 433 to 391, some 9.7% (Figure 12). In addition, 7 aortic valvuloplasties and 29 lung valvuloplasties were carried out.
Figure 12. Evolution of the number of mitral valvuloplasty procedures between 1990 and 2004.
Atrial septal defect closure was performed in 247 cases, representing a 7% decrease compared to the previous year. Success was achieved in 92.9% of cases, failure without complications in 6.7%, and failure with complications in 0.4%. There were 131 patent foramen ovale closures and another 36 procedures in adult patients with congenital defects. Some 60 renal artery dilatations were carried out plus 11 interventions for aortic coarctation, 6 for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta, 19 for aneurysms of the thoracic aorta, and 48 percutaneous myocardial stem-cell implantations.
Percutaneous Intervention in Pediatric Patients
There were 1108 procedures in the pediatric age group in 21 centers, representing an 11.9% increase compared to 2003; these included dilatations (421 cases), atrial septal defect closure (n=163) and ductus closure (n=234). The most frequently used techniques are summarized in Figure 13.
Figure 13. Distribution of pediatric cardiac catheterization procedures.
CONCLUSIONS
The preparation and presentation of the Annual Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Intervention Registry is one of the most important tasks of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardiology. The Working Group, both its board and members, consider the data presented in this registry to be of vital importance to professionals, health authorities, and the general public. These data allow a realistic approach to an important aspect of cardiovascular disease, as well as helping to improve the distribution of health resources in this field. In 2004, as in previous years, there have been increases in figures for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in infarction, although these increases were lower than in previous years. In addition, a very large increase was observed in the percentage of procedures where the radial approach was used, especially in the case of diagnostic procedures. Despite these increases, most diagnostic and interventionist resource indexes continue to be clearly lower than those of the most developed European countries, especially if we take into account that the comparisons are based on outdated European references (2001), given the delay in publishing the information in these registries. Together with the disparity with certain European countries, there are still great differences between the various Spanish regions regarding diagnostic procedures and the different treatment methods. Up to the present, it has proved impossible to eliminate the differences in the rates of coronary angiography, cardiac catheterization, and cardiac catheterization procedures in AMI, and some regions have values strikingly below the national average.
Drug-eluting stents have been used in 36% of cases. This means that the replacement of conventional stents is far from complete, but indicates a strong increase in use during the second year of their introduction. Their use ranged between 56% and 23% among the different regions. There has been an increase in the use of atherectomy techniques due to rotational atherectomy. The use of directional atherectomy is so low in Spain that the figures contribute very little. For the third consecutive year, there has been a strong increase in the use of thrombectomy, with a percentage decrease in the use of distal embolization protection devices.
Finally, a slight decrease was seen in the number of mitral valvuloplasties and atrial septal defect closures. In contrast, in 2004, there were 131 foramen ovale closures, which have become a new field in PCI. Cardiac catheterization procedures grew by 12% in pediatric patients.
Results and reference material available at: www.hemodinamica.com
Correspondence: Dr. R. López-Palop.
Ricardo Gil, 20, 3.o dcha. 30002 Murcia. España.
E-mail: mlopezs@meditex.es