Combat MI

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What is EGYPT COMBAT MI Program?

It is a program that aims at raising the awareness of the medical and public community about the dangers of heart attacks and acute cardiac emergencies, how to combat them and how to prevent delay in receiving optimum medical care.

When was EGYPT COMBAT MI launched?

It was launched in JUNE 2008 during the 1st dedicated meeting on Heart attacks and 1st Acute Cardiac Care Course

Who are COMBAT MI contributing International Organizations?

SCAI (American Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, USA)

Hindu-American Society of Intervention, USA

Italian Society of Invasive Cardiology (GISE), Italy

LUMEN ( Symposium on Optima Management of MI), Miami, USA

Myocardial Infarction SINCERE Registry, USA

Nordic Working Group of international Cardiology

From Which Centers and Organizations Are the Local Board of COMBAT MI?

Ain shams university, Egypt

Al-Azhar University

Cairo University

Egyptian Board of Cardiology

Egyptian Ministry of Health

National Heart Institute, Egypt

Organization of Teaching hospitals and Institutes, Egypt
Egypt Hearts Society

Why is EGYPT COMBAT MI Program needed?

Death and disability from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack continue to be a major public health problem. It is estimated that in Egypt, there are 200 000 heart attacks each year and approximately 100,000 die from AMI. Half of these deaths occur suddenly, within 1 hour of symptom onset, outside of the hospital setting.

The current strategy for treating patients with AMI is early opening of the infarct-related artery through either pharmacological (e.g., thrombolytic or clot-dissolving therapy) or mechanical by PCI.

Thrombolytic therapy is associated with an overall 25 to 30 percent reduction in AMI mortality. In particular, studies have demonstrated marked benefits from thrombolytic agents that were given within 1 to 2 hours after heart attack symptoms began. Although drug therapy has been shown to reduce mortality from heart attacks if administered in the first 12 hours after symptom onset, the greatest reductions occur in patients who are treated early (within 1 hour).

Yet these lifesaving/enhancing treatments are often not made available to patients because they—and those around them, including health care providers/systems in the community and in the hospital—fail to recognize the symptoms and signs of a heart attack, and respond quickly and appropriately. Health care provider, patient, and public education are needed in the area of early recognition of individuals with heart attack symptoms, the most appropriate response, and effective treatments. It is estimated that 26 to 44 percent of patients delay longer than 4 hours in seeking care for cardiac symptoms.

Also, the care offered to heart attack patients in emergency medical services systems throughout Egypt is extremely heterogeneous. In many if not most emergency departments, the additive effect of multiple small time delays causes the tardy administration of thrombolytic and other therapies for AMI. In fact, only a fraction of heart attack patients eligible for benefiting from the latest therapies are actually receiving such therapies.

What are the EGYPT COMBAT MI Goals?

The overall goals are first reducing morbidity and mortality from AMI through rapid identification and treatment and, second, heightening the potential for an improved quality of life for patients and those around them. The Program's goal also includes early recognition and response to individuals with symptoms and signs of acute coronary syndromes, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction. This can be achieved by

Implementing strategies for the critical pathway of ACS management according to the evidenced-based protocols, international guidelines and local facilities

Promoting the delivery of ACS management care to patients

Facilitating the ongoing improvement in the quality and safety of ACS management in acute care settings.

Enhance the educational programs for physicians and paramedics at all levels in the field of ACS and acute cardiac conditions
Supporting the development of information system for the acute care services

Coordinate with authorities to improve pre-hospital, in-hospital management and adequate care of discharged patients

Improving the epidemiological and public health understanding of this syndrome

To run studies on different subsets of patients with ACS, including the young, elderly, women with MI and those with co-morbidity

Acquire the experience and information of international similar groups and organizations.

Increase the proportion of adults aged 20 years and older who are aware of the early warning symptoms and signs of a heart attack and the importance of accessing rapid emergency care by calling a central EMS Egyptian emergency medical system (EMS)

Increase the proportion of eligible patients with heart attacks who receive artery-opening therapy within an hour of symptom onset.
Increase the proportion of adults aged 20 years and older who call EMS and administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when they witness an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Increase the proportion of persons with witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who are eligible and receive their first therapeutic electrical shock within 6 minutes after collapse recognition.

Heart Attack/ Acute Cardiac Care Courses:

They are organized by EGYPT COMBAT MI Program.

Those are dedicated educational condensed updated courses (currently 4th.edition) with updated knowledge that addresses the standards, evidence base medicine, guidelines and dilemma in Heart Attacks recognition, risk stratification and management in the best way as well as the diagnosis and appropriate management of other acute cardiac emergencies. The faculty includes Local consultants and professors from different centers in Egypt and surrounding middle east countries as well as international experts from Europe and USA in ACS and intervention. They discuss and clarify the practical and scientific aspects as well as the advances in international and therapeutic tools and techniques. These courses are directed to all levels of cardiologists, international cardiologists and internists with escalating knowledge.