New PCI Access Linked to Survival Gains Only in Areas That Had None
A study of 590,282 California heart attack hospitalizations examined what happened when a new PCI-capable facility opened within a 30-minute drive. In communities that previously had no such access, 30-day mortality fell by 20%, but survival did not improve where PCI was already available.
Researchers analyzed 590,282 hospitalizations for heart attacks in California. They focused on what occurred when a new facility capable of PCI opened within a 30-minute drive of patients.
Where such access had been absent, 30-day mortality dropped by 20%. In places where PCI was already available, the study found no corresponding survival improvement. The pattern suggests new PCI access may matter most for communities that previously lacked nearby services.
The findings could shape how health systems consider opening new PCI facilities. Communities without nearby access may see the greatest potential survival benefit, while areas with existing PCI may gain less. Patients and hospitals could face different tradeoffs in travel time, resources, and access. Because the study covers California heart attack hospitalizations and one outcome, its implications for other regions or broader care remain uncertain.