Akshay Bagai1, Maria Eberg2, Maria Koh2, Asim N Cheema2, Andrew T Yan2, Arti Dhoot2, Sanjeev P Bhavnani2, Harindra C Wijeysundera2, R Sacha Bhatia2, Padma Kaul2, Shaun G Goodman2, Dennis T Ko2. 1. From the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.B.); Terrence Donnelly Heart Center, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.B., A.N.C., A.T.Y., A.D., S.G.G.); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.E., M.K., H.C.W., D.T.K.); Division of Cardiology, Scripps Clinic and Research Institute, San Diego, CA (S.P.B.); Schulich Heart Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (H.C.W., D.T.K.); Peter Munk Cardiac Center of the University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.B.); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.B.); and Canadian VIGOUR Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (P.K., S.G.G.). bagaia@smh.ca. 2. From the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.B.); Terrence Donnelly Heart Center, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (A.B., A.N.C., A.T.Y., A.D., S.G.G.); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (M.E., M.K., H.C.W., D.T.K.); Division of Cardiology, Scripps Clinic and Research Institute, San Diego, CA (S.P.B.); Schulich Heart Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (H.C.W., D.T.K.); Peter Munk Cardiac Center of the University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.B.); Women's College Hospital Institute for Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (S.B.); and Canadian VIGOUR Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (P.K., S.G.G.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The appropriate use criteria considers cardiac stress testing within 2 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to be rarely appropriate, unless prompted by symptoms or change in clinical status. Little is known about the patterns of cardiac stress testing after PCI in the single-payer Canadian healthcare system, where mechanisms for reimbursement are different from the United States. METHODS AND RESULTS: Frequency and timing of cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI performed between April 2004 and March 2013 in Ontario, Canada, was determined from linked provincial databases. Subsequent rates of coronary angiography and revascularization after stress testing were ascertained. Of the 112 691 patients with PCI, 67 442 (59.8%) underwent at least 1 stress test, with 38 267 (34.0%) undergoing repeat stress testing (ie, >1 stress test) within 2 years. Patients who underwent stress testing were younger, had less medical comorbidities, were more likely to reside in urban areas, and had higher incomes. Spikes in incidence of repeat stress testing were observed at 3 to 4 months, 6 to 7 months, and 12 to 13 months after the prior stress test. Of those tested, only 5.9% underwent subsequent coronary angiography, and only 3.1% underwent repeat revascularization within 60 days of stress testing. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of all patients undergo cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI, with one third undergoing repeat stress tests. Only 1 of 30 tested patients underwent repeat revascularization. These findings reinforce the appropriate use criteria recommendations against routine stress testing after PCI. Further work is needed to aid with the selection of patients most likely to benefit from stress testing after PCI.
BACKGROUND: The appropriate use criteria considers cardiac stress testing within 2 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to be rarely appropriate, unless prompted by symptoms or change in clinical status. Little is known about the patterns of cardiac stress testing after PCI in the single-payer Canadian healthcare system, where mechanisms for reimbursement are different from the United States. METHODS AND RESULTS: Frequency and timing of cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI performed between April 2004 and March 2013 in Ontario, Canada, was determined from linked provincial databases. Subsequent rates of coronary angiography and revascularization after stress testing were ascertained. Of the 112 691 patients with PCI, 67 442 (59.8%) underwent at least 1 stress test, with 38 267 (34.0%) undergoing repeat stress testing (ie, >1 stress test) within 2 years. Patients who underwent stress testing were younger, had less medical comorbidities, were more likely to reside in urban areas, and had higher incomes. Spikes in incidence of repeat stress testing were observed at 3 to 4 months, 6 to 7 months, and 12 to 13 months after the prior stress test. Of those tested, only 5.9% underwent subsequent coronary angiography, and only 3.1% underwent repeat revascularization within 60 days of stress testing. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of all patients undergo cardiac stress testing within 2 years of PCI, with one third undergoing repeat stress tests. Only 1 of 30 tested patients underwent repeat revascularization. These findings reinforce the appropriate use criteria recommendations against routine stress testing after PCI. Further work is needed to aid with the selection of patients most likely to benefit from stress testing after PCI.
Authors: Jason J Sico; Fitsum Baye; Laura J Myers; John Concato; Jared Ferguson; Eric M Cheng; Farid Jadbabaie; Zhangsheng Yu; Gregory Arling; Alan J Zillich; Mathew J Reeves; Linda S Williams; Dawn M Bravata Journal: Neurol Clin Pract Date: 2018-06