Comparison of outcomes for patients receiving drug-eluting versus bare metal stents for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

The outcomes for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) and bare metal stents (BMSs) have been compared in many studies for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, little is known about the relative outcomes for patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The aim of the present study was to compare the NSTEMI outcomes for PCI with DESs and BMSs. New York's PCI registry was used to propensity-match 4,776 pairs of patients with NSTEMI who had received DESs and BMSs from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007. These patients were followed up through December 31, 2008 to test for differences in mortality, target vessel revascularization, and total repeat revascularization. The outcomes were also compared for various patient subsets. At a median follow-up period of 3.68 years, the patients receiving DESs had significantly lower mortality (16.58% vs 14.52%, difference 2.06%, p<0.001), target vessel revascularization (13.08% vs 11.04%, p=0.009), and total repeat revascularization (22.16% vs 18.77%, p<0.001). The patients receiving paclitaxel-eluting and sirolimus-eluting stents both experienced superior outcomes compared to patients receiving BMSs. The patients receiving DESs had significantly lower mortality rates than their propensity-matched counterparts receiving BMSs when they were ≥65 years (difference 2.29%, p=0.01) and male (difference 2.77%, p=0.003). In conclusion, patients with NSTEMI undergoing PCI experienced lower 4-year mortality, target vessel revascularization, and repeat revascularization rates when they had received DESs than when they had received BMSs, and patients who were >65 years old, and men received notable benefits.     

Psychosocial predictors of death for low-risk patients after a first myocardial infarction: a 7-year follow-up study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify whether psychosocial variables predicted mortality 7 years after a first myocardial infarction among patients who did not undergo revascularization. METHODS: The study population consisted of 222 men aged 30 to 60 years who entered an inpatient rehabilitation program a mean of 7 weeks after a first myocardial infarction. Medical data were obtained from the patients and their physicians at entry to the rehabilitation center and 1 year later. Psychosocial and medical variables were obtained from the patient by questionnaires at entry 1 and 7 years later. Follow-up evaluation was 96% complete. Statistical analyses are reported using odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: The 7-year mortality rate was 10.4%; the reinfarction rate was 9%; the hospital readmission rate was 32.3%; and 39.2% of the patients underwent a subsequent revascularization procedure, either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). The most important psychosocial predictors for death at 7 years identified with logistic regression analyses were lack of partnership (OR, 3.46), anxiety (OR, 1.19), and depression (OR, 1.04). Medical predictors of 7-year mortality were severity of infarction (OR, 2.86) and the number of coronary risk factors (OR, 1.77). CONCLUSIONS: Survival in a group of low-risk male patients 7 years after a first myocardial infarction was predicted by the following psychological and social variables: lack of partnership, depression, and anxiety. Although it is unknown whether the risk of dying 7 years after an initial myocardial infarction can be reduced by therapeutic interventions, these data reinforce the importance of special attention for patients with these psychosocial characteristics.     

Early revascularization is associated with improved survival in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: a report from the SHOCK Trial Registry.

AIMS: The SHould we emergently revascularize Occluded Coronaries in cardiogenic shocK (SHOCK) Trial showed no benefit of early revascularization in patients aged >/=75 years with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. We examined the effect of age on treatment and outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock in the SHOCK Trial Registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared clinical and treatment factors in patients in the SHOCK Trial Registry with shock due to pump failure aged <75 years (n=588) and >/=75 years (n=277), and 30-day mortality of patients treated with early revascularization <18 hours since onset of shock and those undergoing a later or no revascularization procedure. After excluding early deaths covariate-adjusted relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to compare the revascularization strategies within the two age groups. Older patients more often had prior myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency, other comorbidities, and severe coronary anatomy. In-hospital mortality in the early vs. late or no revascularization groups was 45 vs. 61% for patients aged <75 years (p=0.002) and 48 vs. 81% for those aged >/=75 years (p=0.0003). After exclusion of 65 early deaths and covariate adjustment, the relative risk was 0.76 (0.59, 0.99; p=0.045) in patients aged <75 years and 0.46 (0.28, 0.75; p=0.002) in patients aged >/=75 years. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock are less likely to be treated with invasive therapies than younger patients with shock. Covariate-adjusted modeling reveals that elderly patients selected for early revascularization have a lower mortality rate than those receiving a revascularization procedure later or never.     

Limited prognostic value of noninvasive assessment of reperfusion by continuous vectorcardiography in an unselected cohort of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis

Aims

We studied the prognostic value of different reperfusion criteria of short-term continuous vectorcardiography (VCG) in an unselected cohort of 400 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction, treated at 4 coronary care units in Stockholm, Sweden, between 1999 and 2002. The main outcome measure was 1-year mortality.

Results

Of 400 study patients, 41 (10.2%) died within 1 year. One-year mortality in patients without reperfusion at 90 minutes, defined as ST resolution below 50% on VCG, was 11.6% compared with 9.0% in patients with reperfusion, (P = 0.4). Ninety-eight (24.5%) patients underwent intervention before discharge and percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting or both during the index admission. Percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting was related to improved 1-year survival (97 ± 2% vs 87 ± 2%, P = .0076). ST-vector magnitude resolution at 90 minutes was lower in patients who underwent intervention (P = .045). None of the reperfusion criteria of VCG was significantly associated with 1-year mortality.

Conclusion

Our results show that noninvasive assessment of reperfusion by continuous VCG has limited prognostic value in unselected patients treated with thrombolysis because of ST-elevation myocardial infarction when subsequent revascularizations are performed. However, VCG might be useful in selecting patients for coronary angiography with subsequent revascularization.     

Comparison of differences in outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention in men versus women <40 years of age

We evaluated the outcomes of 177 consecutive patients (43 women, 134 men) <40 years of age with premature atherosclerosis who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Women were younger, had more diabetes mellitus (37% vs 10%; p <0.001), but less hyperlipidemia (58% vs 75%; p <0.001) compared with men. In-hospital vascular complications and 1-year mortality rate or Q-wave myocardial infarction (7.9% vs 0.08%, p <0.01) were higher in women. By multivariable regression analysis, female gender was the only independent predictor of vascular complications (odds ratio, 14.1; 95% confidence intervals, 1.59 to 125, p = 0.01) and of 1-year mortality rate or nonfatal myocardial infarction (odds ratio, 12.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 111, p = 0.03). Women with premature coronary disease had a distinctive risk factor profile relative to men, with a predominance of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, and were at higher risk of developing vascular and ischemic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention, warranting aggressive risk factor modification and vigilance in this population.     

冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者冠状动脉多支病变PCI与CABG术后5年随访

目的比较冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(冠心病)合并2型糖尿病冠状动脉多支病变患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)置入药物涂层支架(DES)与冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)后远期疗效。方法连续入选2002年12月至2008年12月住院期间的冠心病合并2型糖尿病患者,并成功行择期血运重建的多支冠状动脉病变患者,分为CABG组(n=270),DES组(n=285)。随访5年,从术后30 d开始到5年止结束,随访包括全因死亡、心源性死亡、非致死性卒中、非致死性心肌梗死、心绞痛复发和再次血运重建的主要不良心脑血管事件(MACE)。结果入选患者随访率100%。CABG组与DES组两组间5年全因死亡率(1.11%vs.1.40%)、心源性死亡率(0%vs.0%)、非致死性卒中发生率(2.22%vs.2.81%)无统计学差异(P0.05)。DES组非致死性心肌梗死发生率(3.15%)、心绞痛复发率(17.89%)、再次血运重建率(12.28%)均高于CABG组(分别为1.11,5.56%,0.74%),差异均有统计学意义(P0.05~0.01)。结论多支冠状动脉病变合并2型糖尿病患者CABG与PCI治疗5年生存率无明显差异,但多支冠状动脉病变合并2型糖尿病患者DES支架置入远期心绞痛复发率、再次血运重建率,非致死性心肌梗死发生率高于CABG组。     

Characteristics and outcome of patients with ST‐elevation infarction in relation to whether they received thrombolysis or underwent acute coronary angiography: Are we selecting the right patients for coronary angiography?

BACKGROUND: During the last decade, there has been an on-going debate with regard to whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis should be preferred in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Some studies clearly advocate PCI, while others do not. HYPOTHESIS: The study aimed to describe the characteristics and to evaluate outcome of patients with suspected ST-elevation or left bundle-branch block infarction in relation to whether they received thrombolysis or had an acute coronary angiography aiming at angioplasty. METHODS: The study included all patients admitted to Sahlgrenska University Hospital in G?teborg, Sweden, with suspected acute myocardial infarction who, during 1995-1999, had ST-elevation or left bundle-branch block on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) requiring either thrombolysis or acute coronary angiography. A retrospective evaluation with a follow-up of 1 year after the intervention was made. RESULTS: In all, 413 patients had thrombolytic treatment and 400 had acute coronary angiography. The patients who received thrombolysis were older (mean age 70.3 vs. 64.1 years). Mortality during 1 year of follow-up was 20.9% in the thrombolysis group and 16.6% in the angiography group (p = 0.12). Among patients in whom acute coronary angiography was performed, only 85% underwent acute percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There was a mortality of 12.1 vs. 41.7% among those who did not undergo acute PCI. Development of reinfarction, stroke, and requirement of rehospitalization was similar regardless of type of initial intervention. The thrombolysis group more frequently required new coronary angiography (36.9 vs. 20.6%; p<0.0001) and new PCI (17.8 vs. 11.9%; p = 0.01). Despite this, after 1 year symptoms of angina pectoris were observed in 27% of patients in the thrombolysis group and in only 14% of those in the angiography group (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In a Swedish university hospital with a high volume of coronary angioplasty procedures, we found no significant difference in mortality between patients who had thrombolysis and those who underwent acute coronary angiography. However, requirement of revascularization and symptoms of angina pectoris 1 year later was considerably less frequent in those who had undergone acute coronary angiography. However, distribution of baseline characteristics was skewed and efforts should be focused on the selection of patients for the different reperfusion strategies.     

老年急性前壁心肌梗死患者1 284例的临床特点及预后

目的：评价老年急性前壁ST段抬高型心肌梗死（STEMI）患者接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）后的临床特点及预后。方法回顾性地分析沈阳军区总医院2006年1月至2012年9月收治的1284例老年STEMI行PCI治疗的患者,年龄≥60岁,分为两组：急性前壁心肌梗死（AMI）患者（前壁组）643例;其他部位AMI患者（对照组）641例。记录并分析两组住院及随访期间（1年）有关主要不良心脏事件（MACE）的发生情况。结果（1）两组的基本情况：与对照组相比,前壁组脑血管疾病史、心肌梗死疾病史及高血压病史所占比例低（P＜0.05,P＜0.01）,而男性、KILLIP≥Ⅱ级及入院时心率〉90次/min患者所占比例高（P＜0.05,P＜0.01）,其他临床特征差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;与对照组比较,前壁组患者血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂、β受体阻滞剂、硝酸酯类及利尿剂的药物应用更多（P＜0.01）,并且接受PCI治疗中多支病变比例高,平均支架长度、个数均显著增高（P＜0.01）。（2）两组住院及随访期间MACE发生情况：前壁组心源性死亡明显高于对照组[6.8%（43/632） vs 3.5%（22/629）,P＜0.01],而随访期间（1年）靶血管血运重建率低[4.7%（30/632） vs 9.4%（59/629）,P＜0.01],且年龄≥75岁患者MACE发生率显著高于年龄＜75岁患者[25.4%（30/118） vs 15.8%（81/514）,P＜0.05]。结论老年急性前壁STEMI患者中男性高发,心功能差、多支病变比例高,病情重,PCI中植入支架多,远期靶血管血运重建率低,≥75岁患者MACE发生率高,预后差。     

Age and comorbidity in acute myocardial infarction: a report from the AMI-Florence Italian registry

A total of 930 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction were prospectively recorded in the Florence health district. Factors influencing survival or those associated with use of revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention, 91%) were identified through multivariate analyses (Cox and logistic regression, respectively). The independent protective effect of coronary reperfusion therapy (CRT) was evident at 36 months (39% reduction in the risk of death). After adjusting for all multivariate predictors, CRT use was 63% less likely at age 85 years and older than at under 65 years (p<0.001). Since beyond advancing age, comorbidity appeared to be associated with a reduced chance of CRT, three chronic comorbidity score categories were calculated using information on past medical history. Increased 1-year mortality in patients with higher comorbidity score categories derives, at least in part, from underutilization of CRT. Results confirm that although they might potentially benefit from CRT during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, older and frail patients are excluded from CRT, even when eligible.     

Prognostic value of thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease after revascularization (the Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial [EAST])

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between reversible thallium single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion defects at 1-year after revascularization and quantitative indexes in Emory Angioplasty versus Surgery Trial (EAST) and outcomes 3 years after revascularization in 336 patients. EAST was a randomized controlled trial assessing cardiac outcomes for angioplasty versus bypass surgery for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. During this prospective trial, a substudy included the evaluation of the prognostic value of reversible defects on quantitative thallium SPECT. At 1-year after revascularization, 336 patients underwent SPECT thallium-201 stress myocardial perfusion and 3-hour delayed imaging. Subsequent events, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, myocardial infarction, and death, were recorded at 3 years. A stress-induced reversible thallium-201 defect was defined using a quantitative index of a reversibility score >30% and severity score >500. Reversible defects were observed more frequently in the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty than in the coronary artery bypass graft surgery treatment groups (46% vs 27%, p <0.001). A total of 123 patients had stress-induced, reversible thallium defects and more events than patients with other perfusion results (freedom from all events was 81.3% vs 94% [p <0.001], and freedom from myocardial infarction and death 88.3% vs 95.5% [p = 0.031]). Quantitative thallium SPECT at 1 year after revascularization risk stratifies patients as to their likelihood of major cardiac outcomes.     

Two-year safety and effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents (from a prospective registry)

Uncertainty exists about the long-term safety and efficacy outcomes of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) in unselected patients. The present study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the SES in treatment of patients with coronary artery disease in an unselected population. Over a 2-year period, 1,504 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with ≥1 SES were enrolled. The primary end point was the occurrence of target vessel failure (TVF; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or clinically driven target vessel revascularization). An independent clinical event committee adjudicated all adverse events up to 2-year follow-up. Dual antiplatelet therapy was recommended for ≥1 year throughout the study period. Mean age was 65 ± 11 years; 75% were men, and 34% were diabetics. SESs were implanted for off-label indications in 86% of cases. TVF rates were 3.3%, 6.9%, 11.5%, and 15.5% at 30-day, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups, respectively. The 2-year cumulative rate of definite/probable stent thrombosis was 0.9%; 0.2% was very late thrombosis, occurring from 1 year to 2 years. Patients off dual antiplatelet therapy at 6 months had a significantly increased rate of subsequent death from noncardiac causes. Patients off dual antiplatelet therapy at 1 year had a significantly decreased rate of subsequent clinically driven target lesion revascularization. In conclusion, use of SESs in unselected patients with coronary artery disease was associated with a low TVF rate at 2 years with an acceptable incidence of stent thrombosis.     

Comparison of three age groups regarding safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry)

Limited data exist regarding drug-eluting stent (DES) versus bare metal stent (BMS) use in older patients. From the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, 5,089 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-treated patients were studied (October 2001 to August 2006). The differences in 1-year safety (death, myocardial infarction, and their composite) and efficacy (target vessel revascularization [TVR] with PCI and repeat revascularization) outcomes were compared between the patients who received DESs versus BMSs within each age group: <65 years (n = 2,680); 65 to 79 years (n = 1,942); ≥80 years (n = 443). No differences were found in the safety outcomes by stent type in any age group at 1 year. Regarding the effectiveness, lower rates of TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization were observed in the DES patients across all age groups. After propensity-adjusted analysis, the risk of TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization favored DES versus BMS with patients <65 years old (7.4% vs 14.6%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32 to 0.60; 12.3% vs and 17.4%, HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.84, respectively), 65 to 79 years old (4.8% vs 9.5%, HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.80; and 7.6% vs 12.3%, HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.88, respectively), and ≥80 years old (4.5% vs 10.4%, HR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.44; and 6.0% vs 14.5%, HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.40, respectively). In conclusion, significant reductions in TVR with PCI and repeat revascularization were noted in all 3 age groups without increases in death or myocardial infarction in this large multicenter PCI registry. Our data support the use of DES, regardless of age.     

Outcomes of repeat revascularization in diabetic patients with prior coronary surgery

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated both short- and long-term outcomes of diabetic patients who underwent repeat coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after initial CABG. BACKGROUND: Although diabetic patients who have multivessel coronary disease and require initial revascularization may benefit from CABG as compared with PCI, the uncertainty concerning the choice of revascularization may be greater for diabetic patients who have had previous CABG. METHODS: Data were obtained over 15 years for diabetic patients undergoing PCI procedures or repeat CABG after previous coronary surgery. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups, and in-hospital, 5-year, and 10-year mortality rates were calculated. Multivariate correlates of in-hospital and long-term mortality were determined. RESULTS: Both PCI (n = 1,123) and CABG (n = 598) patients were similar in age, gender, years of diabetes, and insulin dependence, but they varied in presence of hypertension, prior myocardial infarction, angina severity, heart failure, ejection fraction, and left main disease. In-hospital mortality was greater for CABG, but differences in long-term mortality were not significant (10 year mortality, 68% PCI vs. 74% CABG, p = 0.14). Multivariate correlates of long-term mortality were older age, hypertension, low ejection fraction, and an interaction between heart failure and choice of PCI. The PCI itself did not correlate with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The increased initial risk of redo CABG in diabetic patients and the comparable high long-term mortality regardless of type of intervention suggest that, except for patients with severe heart failure, PCI be strongly considered in all patients for whom there is a percutaneous alternative.     

Comparison of long-term (seven year) outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization with versus without stenting

Coronary stents have markedly improved the short- and intermediate-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention by improving acute gains in luminal dimensions, decreasing abrupt vessel occlusion, and decreasing restenosis, yet the long-term benefit of coronary stenting remains uncertain. We examined long-term clinical outcomes of death, myocardial infarction, and repeat target vessel revascularization (TVR) among patients enrolled in the Duke Database for Cardiovascular Disease who underwent revascularization with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty alone or stent placement from 1990 to 2002. Among 6,956 patients who underwent percutaneous revascularization, propensity modeling was applied to identify 1,288 matched patients with a similar likelihood to receive coronary stents according to clinical, angiographic, and demographic characteristics. Significant (p <0.05) predictors of stent placement included multivessel disease, diabetes, hypertension, recent myocardial infarction, decreased ejection fraction, and year of study entry. At a median follow-up of 7 years, although treatment with coronary stenting was associated with a significant and sustained decrease in repeat TVR (18.0% vs 28.1%, p = 0.0002) and the occurrence of death, myocardial infarction or TVR (39.2% vs 45.8%, p = 0.004), long-term survival did not significantly differ between treatment groups (19.9% vs 20.5%, p = 0.72). Outcomes of death and myocardial infarction did not significantly differ between patients who did and did not undergo repeat TVR. In conclusion, compared with angioplasty alone, revascularization with coronary stents provides a significant early and sustained decrease in the need for repeat revascularization, but stents do not influence long-term survival.     

Comparison of one-year outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes (from the CUSTOMIZE Registry)

Uncertainty surrounds the optimal revascularization strategy for patients with left main coronary artery disease presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs), and adequately sized specific comparisons of percutaneous and surgical revascularization in this scenario are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with left main coronary artery disease and ACS treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and drug-eluting stent implantation or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A total of 583 patients were included. At 1 year, MACEs were significantly higher in patients treated with PCI (n = 222) compared to those treated with CABG (n = 361, 14.4% vs 5.3%, p <0.001), driven by a higher rate of target lesion revascularization (8.1% vs 1.7%, p = 0.001). This finding was consistent after statistical adjustment for MACEs (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 5.9, p = 0.01) and target lesion revascularization (adjusted HR 8.0, 95% CI 2.2 to 28.7, p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences between PCI and CABG were noted for death (adjusted HR 1.1, 95% CI 0.4 to 3.0, p = 0.81) and myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 4.8, 95% CI 0.3 to 68.6, p = 0.25). No interaction between clinical presentation (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina/non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) and treatment (PCI or CABG) was observed (p for interaction = 0.68). In conclusion, in patients with left main coronary artery disease and ACS, PCI is associated with similar safety compared to CABG but higher risk of MACEs driven by increased risk of repeat revascularization.     

Sex differences in use of coronary revascularization in elderly patients after acute myocardial infarction: a tale of two therapies

OBJECTIVES: To determine if there are sex differences in the use of coronary revascularization in elderly patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and if sex differences vary by type of revascularization therapy. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medical record data. SETTING: US acute-care nongovernment hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 66,830 Medicare patients > or =65 years old hospitalized with AMI. INTERVENTIONS: None. Measurements and results: We assessed sex differences in the use of coronary revascularization within 60 days of hospital admission among patients who had undergone cardiac catheterization. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to derive risk-standardized rates of any coronary revascularization, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics. Women had lower crude overall rates of coronary revascularization compared with men (65.2% vs 68.7%, p < 0.001). Multivariable adjustment reduced the sex difference in the overall coronary revascularization rate from 3.5 to 2.1% (66.0% women vs 68.1% men, p = 0.001). Sex differences in coronary revascularization use, however, varied by type of revascularization therapy. Women had lower risk-standardized rates of CABG surgery compared with men (27.0% vs 32.9%, p < 0.001), but had higher risk-standardized rates of PCI (42.0% vs 38.2%, p < 0.001), particularly among patients > 85 years old (45.8% vs 38.9%, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicare patients hospitalized with AMI, women are slightly less likely to undergo coronary revascularization after cardiac catheterization; however, sex differences in coronary revascularization vary by type of therapy.     

Ascending aortic hemodynamics and one-year clinical events following percutaneous coronary intervention

Increased pulse pressure has been shown to predict mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in large cohorts of ambulatory patients. There have been reports suggesting worsened outcome following percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty in patients with increased pulse pressure. We reviewed 434 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary stenting to assess for clinical outcomes as a function of pulse pressure (PP) and pulse pressure fraction (PPf). At 1 year, MACE was identified in 17.9% of subjects. There was no statistically significant difference in PP or PPf in those subjects with and without death, myocardial infarction or revascularization. Although previously reported to have correlation with risk for revascularization following balloon angioplasty, aortic pulse pressure at the time of percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting does not predict the risk for cardiac events at 1 year.     

Comparison of outcomes for patients undergoing balloon angioplasty vs coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that coronary stenting is more successful than balloon angioplasty in improving short- and long-term outcomes. However, it remains unknown whether those results can be generalized to broad-based practice. This study aimed to determine whether the outcome for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing coronary stent placement would be better than those undergoing balloon angioplasty. The risk-adjusted mortality and subsequent revascularization rates were compared for 2185 patients from a nationwide Japanese registry during 1997. A total of 1349 patients were treated with balloon angioplasty alone and 836 had stent placement. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of demographic, clinical, and angiographic variables, except that the angioplasty group had a greater proportion of female patients and those with a left circumflex lesion. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was comparable (7.6 vs 6.3%; p=0.28), despite higher angiographic success rate for the stent group (89.7 vs 97.7%; p<0.01). Adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was 0.75 (p=0.19). The same-admission bypass surgery rate was also similar. The 1.9-year post-discharge mortality rate was similar. The need for subsequent revascularization procedures was also similar, but restenosis was significantly lower in the stent group (34 vs 45%; p<0.01). The superiority of clinical outcome for stenting rather than balloon angioplasty could not be demonstrated in broad-based registry patients, despite technically successful results.     

Influence of patient age on acute and late clinical outcomes following Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent implantation

Procedural success may be lower and complication rates higher after balloon angioplasty in older patients. Elective stent implantation improves procedural outcome in younger patients; however, few series have specifically analyzed the octogenarian population. Therefore, we studied 2,534 consecutive patients (3,965 native coronary artery stenoses) who were treated electively with Palmaz-Schatz stents and divided them into 3 groups: (1) < or = 70 years old (n = 1,805), (2) 71 to 80 years old (elderly, n = 607), and (3) > 80 years old (octogenarian, n = 122). Major in-hospital complications (death, myocardial infarction, and urgent bypass surgery) were significantly higher in the octogenarians than in the elderly and patients < or = 70 years of age (4.5% vs 2.0% and 1.5%; p = 0.001). At 1-year follow-up, cardiac events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and need for any revascularization) did not differ among groups; however, there was a stepwise increase in late death in octogenarians (5%) compared with elderly patients (2%) and patients aged < or = 70 years (1%) (p = 0.001). Target lesion revascularization was similar among the groups (11% in octogenarian vs 14% in elderly and 15% in patients < or = 70 years, p = 0.791). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, age was an independent predictor of late mortality (odds ratio 1.05, p = 0.0001), but not a predictor of target lesion revascularization. Stent implantation in octogenarians is associated with (1) more acute complications, (2) a higher in-hospital mortality, (3) a higher late mortality, and (4) a target lesion revascularization similar to younger patients.     

Impact of age following treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions with the orbital atherectomy system: 3-year follow-up

ObjectivesWe investigated the safety and efficacy of coronary orbital atherectomy to treat severely calcified lesions prior to stenting based upon age.BackgroundThe ORBIT II study reported the safety and efficacy with orbital atherectomy in 443 patients with severely calcified lesions. Elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention may be at increased risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and death compared with younger patients.MethodsPatients were stratified according to age (≥75 year old [174/443, 39.3%] vs. <75 year old [269/443, 60.7%]). The MACE rate, defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction (CK-MB > 3X ULN), and target vessel revascularization, was examined at 30-day and 3-year follow-up.ResultsElderly and non-elderly groups had similar rates of procedural (87.9% vs. 89.5%, p = 0.64) and angiographic success (91.4% vs. 91.4%, p = 1.00). Severe angiographic complications were also similar in both groups (6.9% vs. 7.4%, p = 1.00). There was no statistically significant difference in MACE rates in the elderly and younger groups at 30 days (10.9% vs. 10.1%; p = 0.76) and 3 years (27.8% vs. 20.7%, p = 0.13). The individual endpoints of cardiac death (9.1% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.14), myocardial infarction (13.4% vs. 9.7%, p = 0.27), and target vessel revascularization (10.6% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.91) were also similar in both groups at 3 years.ConclusionsThe rates of adverse clinical events in elderly patients who underwent orbital atherectomy were low and similar to the non-elderly patients, suggesting that it could be a reasonable treatment strategy for elderly patients with severely calcified lesions.