Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project: 2021 summary report

The Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP), which is part of the National Cardiac Audit Programme, has published its latest summary report. Based on data collected between April 2019 and March 2020 across England, Wales and North Ireland, the report looks at the care provided to patients who are hospitalised with an acute coronary syndrome (including heart attack). The report records approximately 86,500 cases of heart attack over this period, and so its findings were largely unaffected by the substantial changes in hospital practice and activity caused by the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings include:

• Fewer ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) cases for the second consecutive year – 900 fewer this year
• An increasing proportion of patients have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30 (31.4%) or diabetes (22.7%), and
• Approximately 10% of cases occurred in patients from ethnic minorities. These patients tended to be younger, to be receiving treatment for high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, and almost half (44%) have diabetes.

This 2019/20 report makes a number of recommendations for hospitals not achieving the required standard. This includes consideration of the use of discharge checklists, direct involvement of specialist cardiac pharmacists or ‘ACS nurse specialists’ in relation to the prescription of secondary prevention medication prior to discharge. Read the full report: You can read the report by clicking on the link below. Stay-up-to-date: For notifications of future reports from HQIP, sign up to our mailing list.