A 3-year, retrospective study by cardiologists from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation and the University of Minnesota determined that 28.8% of patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) who did not undergo complete revascularization had a higher mortality rate than patients completely revascularized. Results of this study appear in the May issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
The research team led by Timothy Henry, M.D., FSCAI, reviewed angiographs and clinical data from 493 patients treated at the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, between July 2005 and August 2005. Patients were categorized based on angiographic results and initial treatment: (1) normal coronaries, (2) CAD <70%, (3) CAD >70% with complete revascularization (CR) by PCI or CABG, (4) CAD >70% with partial revascularization (PR) by PCI or CABG, (5) CAD >70% without revascularization treated with medical therapy, and (6) CAD >70% with no revascularization options despite optimal medical therapy. PCI or percutaneous coronary intervention is commonly known as angioplasty and is a common intervention used to treat CAD. CABG or coronary artery bypass grafting is another procedure where blood vessels from another part of the body (the graft) are transplanted to reroute blood around the blocked artery.
In the current study, the research team determined the prevalence of treatment options for groups 1-6 (noted above) was 14.8%, 19.5%, 36.9%, 12.8%, 9.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Researchers also found that 3-year mortality increased with angiographic severity of CAD with groups 1-6 having a 2.7%, 6.3%, 8.2%, 12.7%, 17.4%, and 15.2%, rate respectively. "Our results showed patients with incomplete revascularization (groups 4-6) had a risk of mortality more than double that of completely revascularized patients," said Dr. Henry. After 3 years, study participants with incomplete revascularization had a 14.8% mortality risk compared with 6.6% in patients with complete revascularization.
Additionally, the team found that patients with incomplete revascularization were older, more often male, and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, previous history of CAD including heart attack, PCI, and CABG. Many of the patients in the "no option" group had more than one reason for no further revascularization including chronic total occlusions (70%), diffuse disease (46%), and collateral dependent perfusion (42%). The "no-option" patients had an annual mortality of 3-5%, similar to patients with incomplete revascularization. Researchers speculate the reasons for improved morality could be associated with advances in medical therapy for patients with CAD.
Coronary artery disease is caused by a buildup of plaque (cholesterol deposits) in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. Overtime, plaque buildup can lead to angina (pectoris), a common symptom of CAD that causes severe chest pain due to the inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the heart. Experts estimate that 16.8 million Americans are living with CAD and 9.8 million have angina. "This growing patient population is in need of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at improving not only mortality but also quality of life," Dr. Henry concluded.
Article: "Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Not Amenable to Traditional Revascularization: Prevalence and 3-Year Mortality." Benjamin Williams, Madhav Menon, Daniel Satran, Daniel Hayward, James S. Hodges, M. Nicholas Burke, Randall K. Johnson, Anil K. Poulose, Jay H. Traverse, and Timothy D. Henry. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Published Online: March 1, 2010 (DOI: 10.1002/ccd.22431); Print Issue: May 2010.
This study is published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact medicalnews@wiley.com.
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions is the official journal of The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. This international journal covers the broad field of cardiovascular diseases. Subject material includes basic and clinical information that is derived from or related to invasive and interventional coronary or peripheral vascular techniques. The journal focuses on material that will be of immediate practical value to physicians providing patient care in the clinical laboratory setting. To accomplish this, the journal publishes Preliminary Reports and Work In Progress articles that complement the traditional Original Studies, Case Reports, and Comprehensive Reviews. Perspective and insight concerning controversial subjects and evolving technologies are provided regularly through Editorial Commentaries furnished by members of the Editorial Board and other experts. Articles are subject to double-blind peer review and complete editorial evaluation prior to any decision regarding acceptability. For more information, please visit http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117934745/grouphome/home.html.
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The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is the primary professional association for invasive and interventional cardiologists, representing over 4,300 physicians in 60 countries. The Society's mission is to promote excellence in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, its monthly journal Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, and the advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. For more information, please visit http://www.scai.org or SCAI's comprehensive patient education website, www.seconds-count.org.
Media Advisory
What: The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions
Where: San Diego, CA – Hilton San Diego Bayfront
When: May 5 – 8, 2010
The program, co-chaired by Drs. James Hermiller and Christopher J. White, will feature:
- Special session: Top Practice-Changing Studies of 2010
- Informative panel discussions and groundbreaking sessions, including:
- "Practice Survival in the Era of Health Care Reform"
- Live cases from four North American hospitals
- Keynote speakers:
- Dr. Robert Califf: Interventional Cardiology in the Era of Comparative Effectiveness
- Dr. Geoffrey Hartzler: The Earliest Days of Coronary Intervention: An Historical Perspective
- Dr. John W. Moore: Stent Treatment for Congenital Heart Disease: The Past, Present and Future
- Latest interventional therapies for pediatric, congenital and structural heart disease
For more information, please view the final program here: http://www.scaionline.org/Education/Sessions.aspx
Advance media registration is available at: http://www.scaionline.org/Education/Sessions/Media.aspx
Contact: Kathy Boyd David at kbdavid@scai.org or by phone at 202-552-0789 or 717-422-1181.
Journal
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions