Prehospital Activation of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in ST‐Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND: Prehospital activation of the cardiac catheter laboratory is associated with significant improvements in ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) performance measures. However, there are equivocal data, particularly within Australia, regarding its influence on mortality. We assessed the association of prehospital activation on performance measures and mortality in patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention from the Queensland Cardiac Outcomes Registry (QCOR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive ambulance‐transported patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020 from the QCOR. The total and direct effects of prehospital activation on the primary outcomes (30‐day and 1‐year cardiovascular mortality) were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Secondary outcomes were STEMI performance measures. Among 2498 patients (mean age: 62.2±12.4 years; 79.2% male), 73% underwent prehospital activation. Median door‐to‐balloon time (34 minutes [26–46] versus 86 minutes [68–113]; P<0.001), first‐electrocardiograph‐to‐balloon time (83.5 minutes [72–98] versus 109 minutes [81–139]; P<0.001), and proportion of patients meeting STEMI targets (door‐to‐balloon <60 minutes 90% versus 16%; P<0.001), electrocardiograph‐to‐balloon time <90 minutes (62% versus 33%; P<0.001) were significantly improved with prehospital activation. Prehospital activation was associated with significantly lower 30‐day (1.6% versus 6.6%; P<0.001) and 1‐year cardiovascular mortality (2.9% versus 9.5%; P<0.001). After adjustment, no prehospital activation was strongly associated with increased 30‐day (odds ratio [OR], 3.6 [95% CI, 2.2–6.0], P<0.001) and 1‐year cardiovascular mortality (OR, 3.0 [95% CI, 2.0–4.6]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital activation of cardiac catheterization laboratory for primary percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with significantly shorter time to reperfusion, achievement of STEMI performance measures, and lower 30‐day and 1‐year cardiovascular mortality.