Enhanced Prognosis and Regional Cooperative Rescue Systems for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Insights from Chest Pain Centers in Ningxia, China

Background Chest Pain Centers (CPC) demonstrated improved outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) globally. However, the long-term impact of CPC establishment in economically developing areas, such as Ningxia, China, remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the long-term prognosis and efficacy of collaborative regional rescue systems centered on CPC for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients in Ningxia. Methods This retrospective cohort study analyzed 5,344 STEMI patients from the Ningxia Myocardial Infarction Registry (2014–2019). Based on CPC establishment, patients were segregated into two groups: pre-CPC (n = 2,141) and post-CPC (n = 3,203). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were employed to compare the groups and evaluate long-term outcomes, including mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). Results A total of 5,344 acute STEMI patients were included, with 2,141 (40.06%) in the pre-CPC group and 3,203 (59.94%) in the post-CPC group. In comparison to the pre-CPC group, the post-CPC group exhibited lower all-cause mortality rates at 30 days (4.53% vs. 6.68%, p  = 0.001), 1 year (6.24% vs. 9.11%, p  = 0.001), and 3 years (8.55% vs. 11.86%, p  < 0.001). Additionally, the post-CPC group showed decreased rates of MACCEs at 30 days (7.90% vs. 10.00%, p  = 0.008) and 3 years (18.86% vs. 23.12%, p  < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis yielded similar results. After adjusting for confounding factors using COX multivariable regression, the CPC establishment was found to be a protective factor for all-cause mortality and MACCEs within 30 days (MACCEs: HR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.59–0.88, p  = 0.005; all-cause mortality: HR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.46–0.77, p  < 0.001), 1 year (MACCEs events: HR = 0.80, 95%CI: 0.68–0.94, p =  0.006; all-cause mortality: HR = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.44–0.69, p  < 0.001), and 3 years (MACCEs: HR = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.62–0.81, p  < 0.001; all-cause mortality: HR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.46–0.67, p  < 0.001). Conclusion The establishment of Chest Pain Centers and implementation of regional cooperative rescue systems significantly improved the long-term prognosis of STEMI patients in Ningxia. These findings underscore the importance of developing CPC in underdeveloped regions to enhance cardiovascular emergency care and reduce mortality and morbidity associated with acute myocardial infarction.