Acute coronary syndrome: the illusion of treatment!

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome is a critical area for the “illusion of treatment,” which is a phenomenon where there is an unjustified enthusiasm for a treatment by both patients and doctors. Therapeutic illusion is not the only factor driving overtreatment, as treatment decisions are also influenced by reimbursement pressures, quality measures, fear of litigation, and patients’ expectations. Despite the other factors involved in overtreatment, therapeutic illusion is the one contributor that all cardiologists can begin to address immediately by evaluating their own practice, verifying adherence to the guidelines, and applying simple conscious heuristics to more rational evidence-based care. L Heart Metab. 2018;75:19-21