Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Plus Medical Therapy Reduces the Incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome More Effectively Than Initial Medical Therapy Only Among Patients With Low-Risk Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized, Comparative, Multicenter Study

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether initial medical therapy (MT) only or percutaneous coronary intervention plus medical therapy (PCI+MT) is better for patients with low-risk stable coronary artery disease (CAD) indicated for intervention in Japan. Several multicenter studies have suggested that in the above patients, an initial management strategy of PCI+MT does not reduce the long-term risk of cardiovascular events more effectively than initial MT only. We conducted a randomized comparative study (JSAP [Japanese Stable Angina Pectoris] study) in the previously mentioned patients. The patients were randomized to PCI+MT (n = 192) or initial MT only group (n = 192), and the patient characteristics were very similar in the 2 groups. During the 3.3-year follow-up, there was no significant difference in the cumulative death rate between PCI+MT (2.9%) and MT (3.9%). However, the cumulative risk of death plus acute coronary syndrome was significantly smaller in PCI+MT. In stable low-risk CAD, PCI+MT may improve long-term prognosis more effectively than MT.