Myocardial Perfusion SPECT 2018 in Germany: Results of the 8th Survey

Abstract

AIM This paper presents the results of the 8$^{th}$ survey of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) from the reporting year 2018.

METHODS 291 questionnaires (184 practices (PR), 77 hospitals (HO), 30 university hospitals (UH)) were evaluated. Results of the last survey from 2015 are set in squared brackets.

RESULTS MPS of 145 930 [121 939] patients were reported (+ 19.6 %). 76 % [78 %] of all patients were studied in PR, 16 % [14 %] in HO, and 8 % [8 %] in UH, mostly with a 2-day-protocol 48 % [50 %]. 99.96 % [98 %] of all MPS were performed with Tc-99 m radiopharmaceuticals and in 0.04 % with Tl-201.A pharmacological stress test was applied in 49 % [43 %] (23 % [22 %] adenosine, 26 % [20 %] regadenoson, dipyridamole or dobutamine together < 1 % [1 %]). Attenuation correction was performed in 26 % [25 %] of all MPS, gated SPECT in 86 % [80 %] of stress MPS, in 87 % [78 %] of rest and in 83 % [76 %] of all stress and rest MPS. 67 % [53 %] of the departments performed MPS scoring by default, whereas 16 % [24 %] did not apply this feature at all.69 % [60 %] reported an increase or no changes in their MPS patient numbers. One hundred twenty-six departments which participated in the surveys from 2009 to 2018 reported an increase in MPS by 44 %. 69 % [70 %] of the MPS were requested by ambulatory care cardiologists.

CONCLUSION The 2018 MPS survey reveals a high-grade adherence of routine MPS practice to current guidelines. The positive development in MPS performance and MPS numbers observed since 2012 remains ongoing.