Aims The NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG collects detailed in-hospital clinical, process-of-care and outcomes data for patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the USA. The registry is a national AMI surveillance system that contributes to the scientific enquiry process of AMI care through the facilitation of local and national quality improvement efforts.

Interventions No treatments are mandated, participating centres receive routine quality-of-care and outcomes performance feedback reports and access to quality of care tools, such as dosing algorithms and standing orders.

Population AMI patients are retrospectively identified. No informed consent is required, as data are anonymised. From January 2007 to date, 147 165 records have been submitted from 383 participating US hospitals. Patients with a primary diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction are eligible for enrolment in the registry. These patients must have ischemic symptoms and electrocardiogram changes, and/or positive cardiac markers within 24 hours of initial presentation.

Baseline data Approximately 350 fields encompassing patient demographics, medical history and risk factors, hospital presentation, initial cardiac status, medications and associated doses, reperfusion strategy, procedures, laboratory values, and outcomes. Data are manually entered by study personnel; there are non-financial incentives at the hospital level. Completeness within the registry is noteworthy with most fields at less than 5% missing.

Endpoints Main outcome measures include American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association myocardial infarction performance indicators, as well as in-hospital patient outcomes. Data are available for research by application to: http://www.ncdr.com.