Underuse of evidence-based treatment modalities in diabetic patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. A prospective nation wide study on acute coronary syndrome (FINACS)

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate how new treatment guidelines of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without ST elevation have been implemented in clinical practice especially in diabetic patients. A prospective follow-up was performed on 501 consecutive patients with suspected ACS without ST elevation admitted to nine hospitals in Finland between 15 January and 11 March 2001. The study group included 143 (29%) diabetic patients. Their risk profile was more severe than in non-diabetic patients; ST-depression on admission electrocardiography 57 versus 38%; P P P P =NS for both). In diabetic patients mean delay for in hospital coronary angiography was longer (6.4 vs. 4.2 days, P P