Clinical trials have shown improved outcomes with an early invasive approach for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, real-world data on clinical characteristics and outcomes based on time to revascularization are lacking. We aimed to analyze NSTEMI rates, revascularization timing, and mortality using the 2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database. We identify patients who underwent diagnostic angiography and subsequently received either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Finally, revascularization timing and mortality rates (in-hospital and 30-day) were extracted. Our analysis included 748,463 weighted NSTEMI hospitalizations in 2016. Of these hospitalizations, 50.3% (376,695) involved diagnostic angiography, with 34.1% (255,199) revascularized. Of revascularized patients, 77.6% (197,945) underwent PCI and 22.4% (57,254) underwent CABG. Patients with more comorbidities tended to have more delayed revascularization. PCI was most commonly performed on the day of admission (32.9%; 65,155). This differs from CABG, which was most commonly performed on day 3 after admission (13.7%; 7,823). The in-hospital mortality rate increased after day 1 for PCI patients and after day 4 for CABG patients, whereas 30-day in-hospital mortality for both populations increased as revascularization was delayed. Our study shows that patients undergoing early revascularization differ from those undergoing later revascularization. Mortality is generally high with delayed revascularization, as these are sicker patients. Randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether very early revascularization (<90 minutes) is associated with improved long-term outcomes in high-risk patients.
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