Preoperative Cardiology Consultation and the Incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events（MACE）

Completed

• Conditions: Major Adverse Cardiac Events; Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI); Cardiac Death, Sudden; Cardiac Arrest (CA); Arrhythmia, Cardiac; Heart Failure (HF); Unstable Angina (UA)

• Registration Number: NCT06884436
• Lead Sponsor: Chinese PLA General Hospital

Brief Summary

This cohort study aims to determine when preoperative cardiology consultation is needed to reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The study collected data on elderly patients with preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) results who underwent non-cardiac surgery. It was conducted at the First Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2015 to August 2019. MACE was defined as a composite event occurring within 30 days postoperatively, including acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, heart failure, new-onset severe arrhythmias, non-fatal cardiac arrest, and cardiac death. Data were extracted using structured query language (SQL) and reviewed by three experienced clinicians. Preoperative cardiology consultation was considered as a mediating variable. By modeling, the confounding factors and risk factors for MACE were identified, and the impact of cardiology consultation as a mediating factor on the incidence of postoperative MACE was evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to identify which categories of ECG findings necessitate cardiology consultation to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events, thereby optimizing the cardiology consultation process.

Detailed Description

Background Preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the important methods for perioperative assessment. It can reflect the patient's cardiac condition to a certain extent and indicate the potential risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). When a patient has an abnormal preoperative ECG, the standard medical procedure is to consult with a cardiologist to assess cardiac risk and adjust cardiac function, thereby reducing the incidence of adverse cardiac events. However, some studies suggest that cardiology consultation may delay surgery for elderly fracture patients and that consultation does not affect the prognosis of some abdominal surgery patients. Conversely, other studies indicate that cardiology consultation can reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing major vascular surgery. Additionally, when the patient has a normal ECG, cardiology consultation is usually not provided. Yet, elderly patients often have multiple chronic diseases, and a normal ECG does not completely rule out cardiac problems, which significantly increases the incidence of adverse cardiac events. Therefore, identifying risk factors to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events in elderly non-cardiac surgery patients is particularly important.

Objectives:

To investigate the circumstances in which preoperative cardiology consultation is needed to reduce the incidence rate of MACE.

Methods:

MACE was defined as the composite of acute myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, heart failure (HF), new-onset severe arrhythmia, nonfatal cardiac arrest, and cardiac death, occurring during or within 30 days following non-cardiac surgery. MACE cases were identified by reviewing medical records. Structured query language (SQL) was employed to extract relevant data elements, including postoperative biochemical tests, electrocardiograms (ECGs), coronary angiograms, postoperative progress notes, and consultation reports. Patients could experience multiple MACE events. Three experienced clinicians conducted independent evaluations of complications. Any discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus. This cohort study involved non-cardiac surgery patients from the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, covering the period from January 2015 to August 2019. Preoperative cardiology consultation was considered as a mediating variable. By modeling, the confounding factors and risk factors for MACE were identified, and the impact of cardiology consultation as a mediating factor on the incidence of postoperative MACE was evaluated. Additionally, the study aimed to identify which categories of ECG findings necessitate cardiology consultation to reduce the incidence of adverse cardiac events, thereby optimizing the cardiology consultation process.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-08-31
• Study Completion: 2019-12-31
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-13
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 22000

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 65 years;
• Preoperative ECG results available.

Exclusion Criteria

• Age < 65 years;
• Accepted cardiac or neuro surgery;
• Second surgery within 30 days post-operation;
• Patient refused to follow up.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
MACE	within 30 days post-surgery	The entire sample was divided into a development cohort and a validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk predictors of MACE and to establish a nomogram with statistically significant predictors. The development cohort was used to construct the MACE prediction model, while the data from the validation cohort were used for validation. Preoperative cardiology consultation was considered as a mediating variable. By modeling, the confounding factors and risk factors for MACE were identified, and the impact of cardiology consultation as a mediating factor on the incidence of postoperative MACE was evaluated.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Anesthesiology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital; 🇨🇳 Beijing, China