The Impact of De-escalation of Antianginal Medications on Health Status After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

Antianginal medications (AAMs) can be perceived to be less important after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and may be de-escalated after revascularization. We examined the frequency of AAM de-escalation at discharge post-PCI and its association with follow-up health status.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a 10-center PCI registry, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire was assessed before and 6 months post-PCI. AAM de-escalation was defined as fewer AAMs at discharge versus admission or >25% absolute dose decrease. Of 2743 PCI patients (70% male), AAM were de-escalated, escalated, and unchanged in 299 (11%), 714 (26%), and 1730 (63%) patients, respectively. Patients whose AAM were de-escalated were more likely to report angina at 6 months, compared with unchanged or escalated AAM (34% versus 24% versus 21%; P<0.001). The association of AAM de-escalation with health status was examined using multivariable models adjusting for the predicted risk of post-PCI angina, completeness of revascularization, and the interaction of AAM de-escalation×completeness of revascularization. There was a significant interaction between AAM de-escalation and completeness of revascularization (P<0.001), suggesting that AAM de-escalation was associated with greater impairment of health status among patients with incomplete revascularization. In patients with incomplete revascularization, de-escalation of AAM at discharge was associated with 43% increased angina risk (relative risk, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-1.63) and worse angina-related health status at 6 months post-PCI.

CONCLUSIONS

De-escalation of AAM occurs in 1 in 10 patients post-PCI, and it is associated with an increased risk of angina and worse health status, particularly among those with incomplete revascularization.

The Impact of Age and Sex on In-Hospital Outcomes of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the effect of age and sex on procedural outcomes and efficiency of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics and outcomes of 1675 CTO-PCIs performed in 1644 patients between 2012 and 2016 at 15 United States centers.

RESULTS

Mean age was 65.3 ± 10 years and 1408 (86%) were men. Overall technical and procedural success rates were 88% and 87%, respectively. Increasing age was associated with more comorbidities (dyslipidemia, hypertension, prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery, prior stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and chronic lung disease) and more lesion calcification. As compared with the reference age of <65 years, age >75 years was independently associated with technical failure (odds ratio [OR], 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-4.28). Increasing age was also independently associated with the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.10-9.23 for 65-75 years and OR, 5.71; 95% CI, 1.89-19.60 for >75 years). Compared with men, women (n = 236; 14%) were older (66.8 ± 11.1 years vs 65.0 ± 9.8 years; P=.02), but had similar clinical characteristics and lower J-CTO scores (2.3 ± 1.3 vs 2.5 ± 1.2; P=.02). Although crude technical success rate was higher in women compared with men (92% vs 87%; P=.04), multivariable analysis did not show independent association between sex and technical failure (OR, men/women, 1.66; 95% CI, 0.86-3.50) or MACE (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.25-1.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Older age, but not sex, is associated with lower technical success and higher in-hospital complication rate for CTO-PCI. CTO-PCI is relatively infrequently attempted in women, despite high technical success and acceptable complication rates.

Predictors of Excess Patient Radiation Exposure During Chronic Total Occlusion Coronary Intervention: Insights From a Contemporary Multicentre Registry

BACKGROUND

High patient radiation dose during chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) might lead to procedural failure and radiation skin injury.

METHODS

We examined the association between several clinical and angiographic variables on patient air kerma (AK) radiation dose among 748 consecutive CTO PCIs performed at 9 experienced US centres between May 2012 and May 2015.

RESULTS

The mean age was 65 ± 10 years, 87% of patients were men, and 35% had previous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Technical and procedural success was 92% and 90%, respectively. The median patient AK dose was 3.40 (interquartile range, 2.00-5.40) Gy and 34% of the patients received > 4.8 Gy (high radiation exposure). In univariable analysis male sex (P = 0.016), high body mass index (P < 0.001), history of hyperlipidemia (P = 0.023), previous CABG (P < 0.001), moderate or severe calcification (P < 0.001), tortuosity (P < 0.001), proximal cap ambiguity (P = 0.001), distal cap at a bifurcation (P = 0.006), longer CTO occlusion length (P < 0.001), blunt/no blunt stump (P < 0.001), and centre (P < 0.001) were associated with higher patient AK dose. In multivariable analysis high body mass index (P < 0.001), previous CABG (P = 0.005), moderate or severe calcification (P = 0.005), longer CTO occlusion length (P < 0.001), and centre (P < 0.001) were independently associated with higher patient AK dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 1 in 3 patients who undergo CTO PCI receive high AK radiation dose (> 4.8 Gy). Several baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics can help predict the likelihood of high radiation dose and assist with intensifying efforts to reduce radiation exposure for the patient and the operator.