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Rehospitalizations Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Results From a Multi‐Center Randomized Trial

Background Rehospitalizations (RHs) after ST‐elevation myocardial infarction carry a high economic burden and may deteriorate quality of life. Characterizing patients at higher risk may allow the design of preventive measures. We studied the frequency, reasons, and predictors for unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods and Results In this post‐hoc analysis of the COMFORTABLE AMI (Comparison of Biolimus Eluted From an Erodible Stent Coating With Bare Metal Stents in Acute ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction; NCT00962416) trial including 1137 patients, unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs occurred in 133 (11.7%) and in 79 patients (6.9%), respectively, at 1 year. The most frequent reasons for unplanned cardiac RHs were recurrent chest pain without evidence of ischemia (20.4%), recurrent chest pain with ischemia and coronary intervention (16.9%), and ischemic events (16.9%). Unplanned noncardiac RHs occurred most frequently attributed to bleeding (24.5%), infections (14.3%), and cancer (9.1%). On multivariate analysis, left ventricular ejection fraction (22% increase in the rate of RHs per 10% decrease; P=0.03) and angiographic myocardial infarction Syntax score (34% increase per 10‐point increase; P=0.01) were independent predictors of unplanned cardiac RHs. Age emerged as the only independent predictor of unplanned noncardiac RHs. Regional differences for unplanned cardiac RHs were observed. Conclusions Among ST‐elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of a randomized, clinical trial, unplanned cardiac RHs occurred in 12% with recurrent chest pain being the foremost reason. Unplanned noncardiac RHs occurred in 7% with bleeding as the leading cause. Left ventricular ejection fraction and Syntax score were independent predictors of unplanned cardiac RHs and identified patient subgroups in need for improved secondary prevention. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00962416.

R ehospitalizations (RHs) after myocardial infarction (MI) are the aftermath of in-hospital quality of care, postdischarge management, and an individual's vulnerability. 1,2 Up to one fifth of patients who survive to hospital discharge will be readmitted within 1 month, 3,4 with the consequent economic burden as well as impact on quality of life and long-term prognosis. Identifying the characteristics associated with RHs could aid in stratifying patients according to their risk of RHs and assist physicians in optimizing management following discharge. 5 Although extensive data have been published regarding RHs after acute MI, 5 RHs after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) have not been systematically studied, and available data are limited to 30 days of follow-up. 2,4 Moreover, predictors of RHs have not been consistent throughout studies, which is partially explained by the diverse types of RHs reported (eg, all cause, cardiac related), as well as the quality and granularity of data expected based on the study design. 5 In addition, regional differences in the frequency emerged in multinational studies, underscoring the impact of health systems and local practices on RHs. 2 Planned RHs post-PCI for STEMI may reflect good clinical practice, given that they relate to clinical decisions to better diagnose or treat patients. Such decisions could occur before (eg, hip replacement), during (eg, staged PCI), or after (eg, implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator) the index hospitalization. Consequently, examining unplanned RHs may better characterize patients at increased risk. Our aim was to investigate the frequency, reasons, and predictors of unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs following primary PCI in STEMI patients.

Study Design and Patient Population
We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the COMFORTABLE AMI trial (Comparison of Biolimus Eluted From an Erodible Stent Coating With Bare Metal Stents in Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction; NCT00962416). The study design has been published elsewhere. 6 In brief, this was a multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, superiority trial, in which 1161 STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI at 11 sites in 5 countries in Europe and Israel between September 19, 2009 and January 25, 2011 were assigned to a biolimus drug-eluting stent (BioMatrix; Biosensors Europe SA, Morges, Switzerland) or to a bare metal stent (Gazelle; Biosensors Europe SA, Morges, Switzerland).
Patients were eligible for randomization if they were aged 18 years or older with symptom onset within 24 hours, electrocardiographic criteria for STEMI, and angiographic evidence of at least 1 culprit lesion within the infarct vessel. There were no limits regarding the number of treated lesions, vessels, or complexity. Exclusion criteria were the presence of mechanical complications of acute MI, known allergy to any study medication, use of vitamin K antagonists, planned surgery unless dual antiplatelet therapy could be maintained during the perisurgical period, history of bleeding diathesis or known coagulopathy, pregnancy, participation in another trial before reaching the primary end point, inability to provide informed consent, and noncardiac comorbid conditions with life expectancy of less than 1 year.
For the purpose of the current analysis, all randomized, controlled trial participants were included, except for patients not surviving index hospitalization, or presenting with out-ofhospital death as first event at follow-up. The study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the institutional ethics committee at each participating hospital. All patients included provided written informed consent.

Procedures
After randomization, all patients were treated according to current guidelines and the following co-interventions were indicated: (1) Thrombus aspiration was recommended in all patients whenever aspiration was deemed technically

Clinical Perspective
What is New?
• Among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, unplanned cardiac rehospitalizations at 1 year occurred in 12%, representing approximately two thirds of all unplanned rehospitalizations. • The most common reason for unplanned cardiac rehospitalizations was recurrent chest pain, which was categorized by treating physicians as noncoronary in one third of cases. • Syntax myocardial infarction score and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of unplanned cardiac rehospitalizations at 1 year. • Unplanned noncardiac rehospitalizations at 1 year occurred in 7% of patients with bleeding as the leading cause and age emerging as the only independent predictor identified.
What are the Clinical Implications?
• Myocardial infarction Syntax score and predischarge ejection fraction assessment may help in identifying patients at increased risk for unplanned cardiac rehospitalizations and who could benefit from closer monitoring after percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
feasible; (2) complete revascularization of all lesions within the infarct vessel had to be performed with the randomly allocated study stent; and (3) nonculprit vessels were treated by default by biolimus-eluting stent at baseline and during follow-up. Acetylsalicylic acid (≥250 mg) was administered before the procedure. In the absence of contraindications, patients received an initial dose of prasugrel 60 mg (including patients preloaded with clopidogrel) followed by a daily dose of 10 mg. When prasugrel was contraindicated, clopidogrel was administered at a loading dose of 600 mg, followed by a dose of 75 mg twice-daily for 7 days, followed by a maintenance dose of 75 mg once-daily. Dual antiplatelet therapy was prescribed for the duration of at least 1 year in all patients.

Data Collection
All RHs were prospectively collected by dedicated research personnel in the frame of the trial's severe adverse event reporting process throughout 2 years. Paper forms were centrally collected and entered into a dedicated database (Cardiobase, Clinical Trials Unit, and Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland).

Study End Point Definitions
RHs were defined as any visit to the emergency department for more than 6 hours or any hospital admission. Unplanned RHs were defined as unscheduled visits. In all instances, the main reasons for RH were ascertained in predefined categories (see Table S1 and Table 1). Two investigators (E.S., M.F.) reviewed independently all severe adverse events and adjudicated RHs. Disagreements were adjudicated by a third investigator (L.R.). When several factors contributed to RHs, all were adjudicated, and a predefined study-specific hierarchical rule was used to assign the main reason of RH (see Tables S2 and S3). MI Syntax score was determined as previously described in detail. 7 Recurrent ischemic events were defined according to the previously published study protocol. 6 Recurrent chest pain and ischemia with or without intervention was defined as chest pain attributed to angiographically significant stenosis (with or without intervention) or positive ischemia testing during the unscheduled hospitalization. Chest pain in the absence of angiographic significant stenosis or negative ischemia testing was defined as chest pain without evidence of ischemia.

Statistical Analysis
Continuous variables are expressed as meansAESD or medians with 25th and 75th percentiles. P values were derived using t tests in the former and Mann-Whitney U tests in the latter.
Categorical data are expressed as frequencies and percentages and are compared using the v 2 and Fischer's exact tests. For nested variables in lesion-level data, P values from general and generalized mixed models were used. Poisson

Results
Among the 1161 STEMI patients enrolled in the trial, a total of 1137 (97.9%) were eligible for this subanalysis. The patient flow chart is provided in Figure S1. Unplanned cardiac RHs amounted to 172 episodes in 133 (11.7%) patients at 1 year, and 98 episodes of unplanned noncardiac RHs were observed in 79 (6.9%) patients at 1 year ( Figure). Reasons for unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs are presented in Table 1. A total of 64 planned rehospitalizations were identified and details are provided in Table S4.

Baseline and Procedural Characteristics
Baseline and procedural characteristics are summarized in Table 2

Reasons of Unplanned Rehospitalizations According to Stent Assignment
We observed no significant differences in the overall rate of rehospitalization among patients assigned to bare-metal stents when compared with those assigned to a biolimuseluting stent, except for recurrent chest pain with ischemia Figure. Kaplan-Meier curves showing the incidence rate of unplanned cardiac and noncardiac rehospitalizations within 1 year. and subsequent intervention, which was more frequently the reason for rehospitalization in patients treated by a baremetal stent (23.4% versus 9.0% [percentage of all RHs]; P=0.01). Moreover, when analyzing this reason of rehospitalization at a patient level, 4.4% of the patients assigned to the bare-metal stent group exhibited 1 or more RHs versus 1.1% in the biolimus-eluting stent group (incidence rate ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.28-7.45). Detailed reasons for RH among stent groups are provided in Table S5.

Predictors of Unplanned RHs
For the purpose of the multivariate analysis, we estimated the rate of unplanned RHs within 1 year, accounting for multiple events. The rate of unplanned cardiac RHs was 0.15 per patient per year (95% CI, 0.13-0.18), whereas the rate of unplanned noncardiac RHs was 0.09 per patient per year (95% CI, 0.07-0.11). Predictors of 1-year unplanned cardiac RHs after adjustment for baseline and procedural characteristics are presented in Tables 3 and 4. Each 10% decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction was associated with a 22% increase in the rate of unplanned cardiac RHs (95% CI, 1.02-1.46, P=0.03), and each 10-unit increase in Syntax-MI score preceding primary PCI was associated with a 34% increase (95% CI, 1.07-1.68; P=0.01). No other independent predictors of unplanned cardiac RHs were identified.
Among patients who presented for unplanned noncardiac RHs, age was the only independent predictor. A 10-year increase of age was associated with a 43% increase in the rate of unplanned noncardiac RHs (95% CI, 1.15-1.77; P=0.001).

Rates of Unplanned RHs at Country Level
Rates of unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs stratified by countries are presented in Table 5. Among the 6 participating countries, the rate of unplanned cardiac RHs per patient per year was highest in Israel (0.40; 95% CI, 0.22-0.74) and Denmark (0.26; 95% CI, 0.18-0.38) and lowest in Serbia (0.02; 95% CI, 0.01-0.07). Rates of RHs among The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom were comparable. Regional rates of readmission were more homogenous for unplanned noncardiac RHs, ranging from 0.07 (95% CI, 0.04-0.16) in the United Kingdom to 0.12 (95% CI 0.07-0.19) in Denmark. Finally, Serbia presented the lowest rate of readmissions for unplanned noncardiac causes (0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.07).

Discussion
The main findings of this analysis on the frequency, reasons, and predictors of unplanned cardiac and noncardiac RHs post-PCI in patients presenting with STEMI can be summarized as follows: The largest evidence available on RHs after acute MI is derived from national data sets from the United States including more than 500 000 patients, in which one fifth were rehospitalized within 30 days. 8 Our lower rates of RH are explained by the selective inclusion of unplanned RHs only, as opposed to all-cause RHs, 8 the lower risk of RHs expected in a randomized, controlled trial with exclusion of very-high-risk patients (eg, baseline critical condition, high bleedings risk) 9 and the previously reported lower rates of readmission in European countries, when compared with the United States. 2 In the Assessment of Pexelizumab in Acute Myocardial Infarction trial, which enrolled over 5000 STEMI patients in 17 countries, the 30-day all-cause readmission was 11.3%. 2 In several countries, the odds of RHs where less than half when compared with the United States, including Italy, Germany, Canada, Portugal, and The Netherlands. In line with our findings, Switzerland was associated with a numerically lower rate of RHs and Denmark with a numerically higher rate. Further confirmation of regional variability stems from a recent study on 30-day all-cause RHs post-PCI in Italy, with showed a rate as low as 4.7%. 10 These differences may relate to patient characteristics and local practices (ie, access site, referral habits). Given that potential associated factors were not systematically assessed, we may infer about other determinants, such as: (1) accessibility to emergency department, and whether patients visited first a general practitioner or not; (2) physicians counseling regarding chest pain recurrence and conditions that should prompt consultation; and (3) differences in the threshold for readmission among countries. Moreover, the possibility that true differences in the rate of complications following primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI or that a misrepresentation of event rates exist, may stimulate further research in this field. Given that comparable clinical outcomes (ie, major adverse cardiac events) among countries were observed, true differences in complications other than major adverse cardiac events following STEMI represents an unlikely explanation.

Reasons for Unplanned Cardiac and Noncardiac RH
Our results indicate that recurrent chest pain is the most common reason for unplanned RHs after PCI for STEMI, amounting to two thirds of unplanned cardiac readmissions within 1 year. Even though 70% of those RHs justified a revascularization procedure or specialized care, the remainders comprised a subgroup of patients in which an opportunity to reduce rates of RHs exist. Chest pain without evidence of ischemia (ie, noncoronary) comprises a wide range of diagnoses with varying risk and need for RH, from life-threatening conditions (eg, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, and acute coronary syndrome) to low-risk ailments (eg, musculoskeletal pain, gastroesophageal reflux, and hypertensive cardiomyopathy). Proper algorithms in emergency departments coupled with noninvasive imaging techniques and laboratory tests with high negative predictive value, could potentially avoid unnecessary RHs, with the consequent reduction in health costs. Conversely, the universal availability of such tests might be restrained because of economic constraints. In our study, 60% of patients were discharged based on normal biomarkers and absence of electrocardiographic changes, whereas 23% underwent coronary catheterization. The relevance of recurrent chest pain without the need for reintervention has been highlighted in PCI registries, 11,12 1 of which reported repeat revascularizations in less than 1 in 8 patients admitted with chest pain, and suggested that low-risk chest pain may be effectively evaluated in the outpatient or observational settings. Patient counseling as to how to adequately react to a pain episode may also translate in less cardiac RHs attributed to chest discomfort. We observed that bleeding was the most frequent noncardiac cause of RHs and not unexpectedly in this context, age emerged as an independent predictor in our analysis. Other investigators have reported the frequency of bleeding post-PCI for STEMI 13,14 ; however, this study is the first to show bleeding as a leading cause. Acute coronary syndrome patients are at a high risk for bleeding events partly related to the administration of more-potent antiplatelet therapy. 15,16 Bleeding post-PCI is relevant considering its association with an increased risk of death at long-term follow-up. 17 Among patients undergoing PCI, the most frequent bleeding site is the gastrointestinal tract. 18 Noteworthy, increasing age, previous gastrointestinal bleed, history of malignancy, smoking, and triple antithrombotic therapy were reportedly independent predictors of gastrointestinal bleeding. 17 Upper gastrointestinal bleeding appears preventable, in part, by administration of proton pump inhibitors. Indeed, a recent study confirmed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal bleeding events by routine administration of proton pump blockers in PCI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. 19 Furthermore, the evaluation of bleeding risk by using dedicated scores may aid in identifying patients in whom potent P2Y12 administration or a prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy duration should be omitted. 20,21

Predictors of Unplanned Cardiac and Noncardiac RHs
Early RHs carry a significant economic burden, 12 and reducing the number of RHs by improving quality of care specifically in patients at high risk could lend to a better utilization of resources. Notwithstanding, such an undertaking may turn out complex. For instance, early physician follow-up have not been associated with lower 30-day RH rates in patients discharged after non-STEMI. 22 Baseline and procedural characteristics associated with unplanned RHs vary based on whether the cause of RH is cardiac or noncardiac. Interestingly, comorbidities, such as hypertension, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, history of malignancy, and anemia, were associated only with unplanned noncardiac RHs, whereas lower left ventricular systolic function and higher MI Syntax score were associated only with unplanned cardiac RHs. A common characteristic of patients being readmitted for both cardiac and noncardiac reason was a significantly lower LDL level measured before initialization of statin therapy. Although not emerging as an independent predictor, the association of low LDL and unplanned RHs adds to previous observations including an association between low LDL levels and increased total and cardiovascular mortality in elderly 23,24 and acutely diseased individuals, 25 as well as an increased risk of cancer. 26 Based on the reportedly consistent positive effect of LDL lowering by statins in patients with coronary artery disease, it can be assumed that a reverse causal relationship is responsible for our observation.
Few independent predictors could be identified following multivariate analysis. Age was the only one predicting readmission for noncardiac reasons and left ventricular function and Syntax MI score before revascularization. The impact of ejection fraction on the prognosis of survivors of acute MI is well established. 27,28 Conversely, this is the first report on an association between the MI Syntax score with unplanned cardiac RHs. A previous large-scale study found an association on multivessel disease and readmissions, a finding that was no longer present after the exclusion of planned revascularization procedures, which were not  considered in our investigation. The Syntax score quantifies angiographic disease complexity and was shown to predict patient-and device-oriented major adverse cardiac events during follow-up in various clinical setting, including STEMI. 7,29 Although full revascularization was recommended within the initial hospital stay, significant lesions may persisted and were treated conservatively, subsequently leading to unplanned cardiac RH, an assumption that is supported by a high contribution of repeat revascularization procedures in previously untreated vessel segments. In the absence of information of the completeness of revascularization (ie, by assessing the residual Syntax score), we can only speculate as to whether a more complete  Results from multivariable negative binomial regression with estimated rates of rehospitalisation after multiple imputation of missing data using chained equations. Estimates combined from 40 imputed data sets using Rubin's rule. GFR indicates glomerular infiltration rate; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; MI, myocardial infarction; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; ST-elevation myocardial infarction. revascularization at the index procedure or early after primary PCI could attenuate unplanned cardiac RHs, and thereby safe costs, as it was observed in previous studies. 30 The total number of rehospitalization events in this cohort throughout 1 year did not allow to investigate predictors for early (<30 days) versus late (>30 days) rehospitalizations (cardiac and noncardiac). In this study, patients receiving biodegradable polymer biolimus-eluting stents were compared with patients receiving bare-metal stents. The primary composite endpoint of cardiac death, target vessel MI and target lesion revascularization, occurred more frequently in patients treated with bare-metal stents. 31,32 Overall, we observed no significant difference in the rate of unplanned cardiac or noncardiac rehospitalizations among groups. Nevertheless, and in line with the main report of the trial, recurrent chest pain with ischemia and subsequent intervention was more frequently observed in the bare-metal stent group (4.4% versus 1.1%).

Limitations
First, although COMFORTABLE AMI was designed as an allcomers STEMI trial, %40% of patients presenting for STEMI were not included in the trial, leading to an underestimation of RH frequency, and the reasons and associated predictors of unplanned RH potentially differ. This is supported by a report that showed a higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients excluded from the COMFORTABLE AMI trial. 9 Second, we did not record attendance to rehabilitation after primary PCI, a variable that is hypothetically attenuating the key end point of this study. Third, when multiple diagnoses coexisted in a hospitalization, we defined hierarchies that would allow categorization based on the cause of admission. These hierarchies may not be applicable to other settings. Fourth, because of the limited number of events and study subjects, we did not include country of enrollment in the predictors model. Finally, reasons for RH were ascertained by review of severe adverse events listings and narratives; consequently, adjudication was limited to the information available.

Conclusion
Among STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI in the setting of a randomized, clinical trial, unplanned cardiac RHs occurred in 12%, with recurrent chest pain being the foremost reason. Unplanned noncardiac RHs occurred in 7% with bleeding as the leading cause. Left ventricular systolic function and Syntax score were independent predictors of unplanned cardiac RHs and identified patient subgroups in need for improved secondary prevention.

Disclosures
Clinical Trials Unit Bern, which is part of the University of Bern, has a staff policy of not accepting honoraria or consultancy fees. Dr Windecker has received research contracts to the institution from Abbott, Boston Scientific, Biosensors, Biotronik, Cordis, and Medtronic. The other authors report no conflicts. Dr R€ aber has received grants to the institution from St. Jude Medical. Dr von Birgelen has received speakers honoraria from AstraZeneca, and his institution has received research grants from AstraZeneca, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. The other authors report no conflict with regards to the content of this manuscript.     ॥Diagnosis or non-surgical treatment. Figure S1. Patient flowchart