ACS management

In this learning programme, based on a BJC supplement ‘The post-acute coronary syndrome patient: optimising management’, we learn how to optimise management of the post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patient.

Two national audits, MINAP (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project) and NACR (National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation) as well as registries such as GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) have provided a wealth of data. These together with numerous other data sources reveal a national picture of a major reduction in the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore whilst these events do still occur, these data indicate that we are increasingly successful in managing the acute event.

This success has lead to new considerations:
– The emerging concept of the very high risk patient: people with multiple events, cardiovascular disease in multiple sites and/or co-morbidities.
– The increasing numbers of survivors: success in managing cardiovascular disease is creating a new population of patients to care for.

The programme looks at the scope of the problem of ACS in the UK which still has 80,000 hospitalisations for MI every year, many of whom still present late due to a lack of insight into their situation. It discusses thrombus formation, dual antiplatelet therapy and the different agents, with consideration of the optimal duration of therapy. Finally, the complexities of discharge and aftercare are discussed, with reference to the primary care aspect.

Each module will have a series of multiple-choice questions. Its one a half hours of learning leads to one a half continuing professional development (CPD) credits.

The programme has been made available with an arms-length grant from AstraZeneca. It has been independently written by five highly-respected cardiology authors.