Rome, Italy 29 August 2016 - In stable symptomatic patients with suspected coronary artery disease, a strategy of using non-invasive computed tomography (CT) to guide the selective use of invasive coronary angiography was safe, and less expensive compared with direct invasive angiography.
Findings of the CONSERVE (Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography for Selective Cardiac Catheterization) trial, presented in a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2016, showed the CT-guided strategy was associated with no differences in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and resulted in an 86% reduction in invasive coronary angiography (ICA) compared to the direct invasive angiography approach.
"Our study observed lower rates of invasive procedure, which were also associated with cost savings," commented investigator Hyuk-Jae Chang, MD, PhD from Yonsei University College of Medicine, in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
"The message from this trial is that, if we use coronary CT angiography as a gatekeeper to the catheterization lab in stable symptomatic patients with suspected coronary artery disease, we'll reduce costs with sufficient safety."
The randomized, multicenter, controlled trial included 1,530 patients with indications for invasive angiography, based on current guidelines.
They were randomized to direct versus selective invasive coronary angiography, the latter driven by physician referrals based on initial results of the CT.
For the primary endpoint of 12-month MACE, rates were 5% in both groups, with the secondary endpoint of mean cardiovascular cost per patient being significantly lower in the selective versus direct invasive coronary angiography arm ($2,883 vs $6,031).
There was a >$3000 cost savings per person in this trial over 12 months using medicare costs. If we account for the 4.6M caths that are done (3.6 in the outpatient setting), we can see that math works out to >$10B each year.
In addition to being economically meaningful, the significant reduction in invasive procedures is clinically important, said Prof. Chang "CT guided strategy may uncouple the diagnosis - treatment cascade of ICA which promote excess revascularization and subsequently expose patients to non-negligible risk related to invasive procedure."
###
Notes to editors
Sources of funding: The CONSERVE trial was funded by an investigator-initiated unrestricted grant from GE healthcare (Princeton, New Jersey) and Severance Hospital of Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea).
Disclosures: The investigators have no financial conflicts regarding this study.
ESC Press Office
For background information, please contact the ESC Press Office at media@escardio.org.
For press enquiries, please contact, the Media & Press Coordinator, Jacques Olivier Costa: +393427028575
For independent comment on site, please contact the ESC Spokesperson coordinator, Celine Colas: +393402405148
To access all the scientific resources from the sessions during the congress, visit ESC Congress 365.
About the European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 120 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives.
About ESC Congress 2016
ESC Congress is the world's largest gathering of cardiovascular professionals contributing to global awareness of the latest clinical trials and breakthrough discoveries. ESC Congress 2016 takes place 27 to 31 August at the Fiera di Roma in Rome, Italy. The scientific programme is here. More information is available from the ESC Press Office at press@escardio.org
This press release accompanies both a presentation and an ESC press conference at the ESC Congress 2016. Edited by the ESC from material supplied by the investigators themselves, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology. The content of the press release has been approved by the presenter.