CABG Offers Better Long-Term Outcomes in Younger Adults With CAD

HealthDay News — For young patients (≤50 years) with 3-vessel coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with increased rates of adverse outcomes compared with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held from January 27 to 31 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Wael Awad, MD, of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, and colleagues retrospectively studied 200 young patients (age ≤50): 100 undergoing PCI and 100 undergoing CABG between January and December 2004. Data were obtained from patients or their general practitioners in 2009 and 2016 for 5- and 12-year follow-up.

The researchers found that, compared with the CABG group, the PCI group had significantly increased rates of myocardial infarction (MI; 9% vs 1%), repeat revascularization (31% vs 7%), and total major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE; 44% vs 11%) at 5 years.

The results were similar at 12-year follow-up. Patients with 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease had no between-group differences in the rates of death, MI, stroke, repeat revascularization, or MACCE at follow-up. Patients with 3-vessel disease undergoing PCI had significantly higher rates of MI, revascularization, and MACCE only.

“PCI is reasonable and as safe as CABG in young patients, but this should be reserved for patients with single or 2-vessel disease,” Dr Awad said in a statement.

Reference

Durability of open heart surgery offers younger patients superior long-term results [press release]. Fort Lauderdale, FL: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons; January 30, 2018. Accessed January 31, 2018.