The American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) have collaborated with other professional organizations to publish the first comprehensive set of performance and quality measures specific to coronary artery revascularization. These measures aim to accelerate the translation of scientific evidence into clinical practice and provide practitioners and institutions with tools to measure the quality of care and identify areas for improvement.
The performance measures, which are evidence-based and actionable, target significant gaps in the quality of care and are based on Class 1 clinical practice guidelines. The 44-page document, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, includes 15 performance measures addressing various aspects of coronary artery revascularization. These measures cover topics such as aspirin use, lipid management, glycemic control, and referral to cardiac rehabilitation.
In addition to the performance measures, the document also includes five quality measures and two structural measures. The quality measures focus on shared decision-making, periprocedural hydration, smoking cessation, risk assessment, and reduction of atrial fibrillation. The structural measures address preprocedural assessment, collaborative efforts among cardiovascular specialists, and registry participation for measuring performance.
The writing group notes that the field of coronary artery revascularization is rapidly evolving, and further research is needed in various areas. These include determining the optimal role and timing of revascularization in cardiogenic shock, researching conduits and techniques for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and studying the safety and effectiveness of new devices for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Additional research is also needed to evaluate the long-term outcomes and effects of different therapeutic strategies in stable patients with chronic coronary disease.
The document has been endorsed by several professional organizations, including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. It provides valuable guidance and measures for practitioners in the field of coronary artery revascularization, with the potential to enhance the quality of care and improve patient outcomes.
