Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes associated with Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Everolimus Eluting Stents: A Meta-Analysis

The Clinical Value of Syntax Scores in Predicting Coronary Artery Disease Outcomes

The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (SS) hassignificantly improved angiographic risk stratification. By analyzing angiographic variables, this score characterizescoronary artery disease qualitatively and quantitatively. To date, combining this score with other non-angiographic clinicalscores has broadened perspectives regarding risk estimation, and future research on this topic appears promising.

Ten-Year Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Suffering from Left Main Coronary Disease: A Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

In this meta-analysis, we aimed to systematically compare the 10-year outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) suffering from left main coronary artery disease (LMCD).

METHODS

Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov , Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and Google scholar were searched for publications comparing 10-year outcomes of PCI versus CABG in patients with T2DM suffering from LMCD. Cardiovascular outcomes were considered as the clinical endpoints. Statistical analysis was carried out using RevMan software (version 5.4). Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to represent the data after analysis.

RESULTS

Eight studies (three randomized trials and five observational studies) with a total number of 3835 participants with T2DM were included in this analysis; 2340 participants were assigned to the PCI group and 1495 participants were assigned to the CABG group. Results of this analysis showed that mortality (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-1.00; P = 0.05), myocardial infarction (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.80; P = 0.002), repeated revascularization (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.26-0.46; P = 0.00001), and target vessel revascularization (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.18-0.38; P = 0.00001) were significantly higher with PCI when compared to CABG in these patients with diabetes and LMCD. Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were also significantly higher with PCI at 10 years (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.92; P = 0.01). However, CABG was associated with a significantly higher risk of stroke (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.39-3.37; P = 0.0007).

CONCLUSIONS

During a long-term follow-up time period of 10 years, PCI was associated with worse clinical outcomes compared to CABG in these patients with T2DM suffering from LMCD. However, a significantly higher risk of stroke was observed with CABG. This piece of information might be vital in order to carefully choose and prevent complications following revascularization in such patients.

Predicting adverse cardiovascular outcomes in post-coronary artery bypass grafting patients using novel ECG frequency analysis of the QRS complex

Background

A novel metric called Layered Symbolic Decomposition frequency (LSDf) has been shown to be an independent predictor of ventricular arrhythmia and mortality in patients receiving implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) devices. This novel index studies the fragmentation of the QRS complex. However, its generalizability to predict cardiovascular events for other cardiac procedures is unknown. Herein, we investigated the applicability of LSDf as a predictive measure for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods and Results

One hundred ninety‐five patients had high‐resolution ECG recorded prior to CABG surgery in 2012/2013 and were followed for a mean duration of 7.32 ± 0.32 years for postoperative cardiovascular outcomes. These outcomes were described as a modified composite of MACE defined as hospitalization for heart failure, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and cardiovascular death including stroke and cardiac arrest. One hundred seventy‐two patients were included for analysis and 18 patients experienced a postoperative cardiovascular outcome. These patients had significantly increased age (71.3 vs. 64.6 years, p = .007), prolonged QRS duration (113.22 vs. 97.35 ms, p = .003), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (42.7% vs. 56.5%, p < .001), and lower LSDf percent (13.5% vs. 16.9%, p = .002). Patients with an LSDf below 13.25% were 4.8 (OR 1.7–13.5, p < .001) times more likely to experience a MACE and up to 19.4 (OR 4.2–90.3, p < .001) times more likely to experience a MACE when older than 70 years and an ejection fraction below 50%.

Conclusion

Layered Symbolic Decomposition frequency may be an applicable metric to predict long‐term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischemic heart disease.

A focused review on optimal coronary revascularisation in patients with chronic kidney disease: Coronary revascularisation in kidney disease

Concomitant chronic kidney disease (CKD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) is known to have poor outcomes. With a thorough literature review, we discuss the pathophysiological basis behind accelerated atherosclerosis in CKD, and the role of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in these patients, focusing on drug-eluting stents, coronary artery bypass grafting, and adverse outcomes. We discuss factors contributing to poor outcomes in these patients, and the need for more work in this subgroup.

Preferred Revascularization Strategies in Patients with Ischemic Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis

Clinically, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is generally used to treat patients with ischemic heart failure. However, the optimal treatment strategy remains unknown. This study examined the efficacy of the two coronary revascularization strategies for severe ischemic heart failure by using a meta-analysis. Studies comparing the efficacy of CABG and PCI were obtained from PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The quality of each eligible article was evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS), and the meta-analysis was performed using Stata version 12.0 software. Eventually, 12 studies involving 9248 patients (n=4872 in CABG group; n=4376 in PCI group) were subject to the meta-analysis for subsequent pooling calculation. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) [HR=0.83, 95% CI (0.76, 0.90), P<0.001; heterogeneity, P=0.218, I²=22.9%] of CABG compared with that of PCI revealed a statistical superiority of CABG to PCI in terms of the long-term mortality. Furthermore, CABG showed more advantages over PCI with respect to the incidence of myocardial infarction [HR=0.51, 95% CI (0.39, 0.67), P<0.001; heterogeneity, P=0.707, I²=0%] and repeat revascularization [HR=0.40, 95% CI (0.27, 0.59), P<0.001; heterogeneity, P<0.001, I²=80.1%]. It was concluded that CABG appears to be more advantageous than PCI for the treatment of ischemic heart failure in the given clinical setting.

Reassessing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Versus Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Brief Updated Analytical Report (2015-2017)

INTRODUCTION

In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in terms of adverse outcomes utilizing data from a recent (2015-2017) population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

An electronic search of recent studies (2015-2017) was carried out using 'diabetes mellitus,' 'coronary artery bypass surgery,' and 'percutaneous coronary intervention' as the main search terms. Uncomplicated T2DM patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), left main CAD, and multi-vessel disease were included. RevMan software (version 5.3) was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Among a total of 13,114 T2DM patients, CABG and PCI patients did not differ significantly in their rates of mortality (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.61-1.31; P = 0.57) and cardiac death (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.78-1.30; P = 0.98). However, rates of major adverse events, repeat revascularization, and myocardial infarction were significantly higher in the PCI group. Stroke rates did not significantly differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Mortality (1-5 years) did not significantly differ between the CABG and PCI patients with T2DM. However, rates of other major adverse events were significantly higher in the PCI patients, suggesting that CABG is more advantageous than PCI in patients with T2DM.

Main predictors of in-hospital adverse outcomes in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome patients with multivessel disease

Aim. To evaluate the range of risk factors associated with adverse cardiovascular events onset in hospital period of follow-up in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) with multivessel disease (MD).

Material and methods. To the study, under the framework of prospective, single-center registry, the NSTEACS and MD patients were included. Depending on the strategy of revascularization, three groups were selected: staged PCI, coronary bypass (CBG) and PCI as the first with CBG as the second stage. As adverse cardiovascular events, the following were taken: death, myocardial infarction, stroke or transient cerebral ishemia, clinically significant bleeding by BARC, repeat nonscheduled revascularization of target vessel. 

Results. Analysis revealed the groups of factors increasing the probability of adverse cardiovascular events. Those are: (1) clinical and demographic  — older age, diabetes, postinfarction cardiosclerosis, multifocal atherosclerosis, chronic renal failure; (2) coronary and surgical — left main stem lesion, severe atherosclerosis by SYNTAX Score, high surgical risk by EuroScore II, revascularization strategy;  (3) predominance of low or moderate risk by GRACE comparing with high risk.

Conclusion. The results have confirmed high predictional significance of clinical and demography and coronary factors for development of adverse cardiovascular diseases. A significant finding of the study was the fact that in a hospital with surgery and endovascular treatment available 24/7, the intermediate and low GRACE risk in NSTEACS and MD is a factor of adverse cardiovascular events development due to revascularization delays if the risk is not high.

Worse clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention with a high SYNTAX score: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score is an angiographic tool which is used to determine the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to compare PCI versus coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in patients with a high SYNTAX score in order to confirm with evidence whether the former is really association with worse clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The National database of medical research articles (MEDLINE/PubMed), EMBASE database, and the Cochrane library were searched for publications comparing PCI versus CABG in patients with a high SYNTAX score, respectively. Death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, repeated revascularization, and a combined outcome death/stroke/MI were considered as the clinical endpoints. RevMan software was used to analyze the data, whereby odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as the statistical parameters.

RESULTS

A total number of 1074 patients were included (455 patients with a high SYNTAX score were classified in the PCI group and 619 other patients with a high SYNTAX score were classified in the CABG group). A SYNTAX score cut-off value of ≥33 was considered relevant. Compared with CABG, mortality was significantly higher with a high SYNTAX score following PCI with OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.70; P = .006, I = 0%. The combined outcome death/stroke/MI was also significantly higher following PCI with a high SYNTAX score, with OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.24 to 2.30; P = .0009, I = 0%. In addition, PCI was also associated with significantly higher MI and repeated revascularization when compared with CABG, with OR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.75 to 7.89; P = .0006, I = 0% and OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 1.71 to 10.94; P = .002, I = 77%, respectively. However, stroke was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with CABG, worse clinical outcomes were observed following PCI in patients with a high SYNTAX score, confirming with evidence, published clinical literatures. Therefore, CABG should be recommended to CAD patients who have been allotted a high SYNTAX score.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery and the SYNTAX score: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The SYNTAX [Synergy Between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) With Taxus and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG)] score is a decision-making tool in interventional cardiology. However, several facts still remain to be addressed: What about PCI or CABG with a low versus a high score respectively? And what about PCI with a low score versus CABG with a high score? Electronic databases were carefully searched for relevant publications. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and the analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.3. Eleven studies with a total number of 11,037 patients were included. In terms of clinical outcomes, this analysis showed PCI to have significantly favored patients with a low versus a high SYNTAX score. In patients who were re-vascularized by CABG, mortality and major adverse cardiac events were significantly lower with a low SYNTAX score. However, when PCI with a low SYNTAX score was compared with CABG with a high SYNTAX score, no significant difference in mortality and combined death/stroke/myocardial infarction were observed. In conclusion, the SYNTAX score might be considered useful in interventional cardiology. Nevertheless, the fact that it has limitations when compared to newer tools should also not be ignored.