TRANSLATE-ACS Team Scores in Number of Participants

 

A Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation research team coordinated by Amy McMeans, CRC, won recognition recently for registering the most people for the TRANSLATE-ACS study.

 

The study is following patients who have suffered acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and looking at the effectiveness of antiplatelet medications on this patient population. The patients are followed up by telephone and asked about their heart medications and overall health

 

“Our success with enrollment in the TRANSLATE study is largely due to the team approach, “ says McMeans. “We have designated screeners, consenters and data entry staff all working together. Of course, we also have a great patient population, not only in numbers, but also in the patients' willingness to participate. We have very few patients decline participation!”

 

ASC occurs when a blood clot suddenly forms within a coronary artery, usually due to the acute rupture of a plaque. The blood clot will often completely stop or significantly reduce the flow of blood to the heart muscle, and is considered a medical emergency. Any plaque can rupture, even small ones. This is why people can often have a myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, shortly after being told their coronary artery disease is "insignificant."

 

Approximately 17,000 patients will be enrolled in the study at approximately 350 sites in the United States. Follow-up will be conducted through 15 months in approximately 15,650 patients.

 

The Principle Investigator of the TRANSLATE-ACS study is Tim Henry, MD.