CARE OF ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION BY NONINVASIVE AND INVASIVE CARDIOLOGISTS - PROCEDURE USE, COST AND OUTCOME

Objectives. This study sought to determine how noninvasive and invasiv e cardiologists may differ in the hospital care of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Background. Scant information exists regarding the effect of noninvasive and invasive cardiology subspecialization o n invasive cardiac procedural use, cost and outcome in the care of pat ients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods. This study analyzed a prospective cohort of 292 patients admitted to an urban tertiary care hospital from the emergency room under the care of noninvasive or inv asive cardiologists. Clinical characteristics; hospital course, includ ing management, utilization of diagnostic coronary angiography and per cutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; direct hospital costs; le ngth of hospital stay; and post hospital discharge follow-up data were collected by a prospective data base instrument. Conclusions. Noninva sive and invasive cardiologists differ in their rate of utilization of coronary angioplasty in similar patients with acute myocardial infarc tion.