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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
The Number e as a Limit
Published on: January 12, 2026
Long-term clinical outcome in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation Registry: comparison with the
1Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. frederick.feit@nyu.med.edu
Insights
Physician-guided percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in the BARI registry showed similar long-term survival. This held true for overall patients and treated diabetics, demonstrating physician choice did not compromise outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) enrolled 4039 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.
- 1829 patients consented to randomization, while 2010 followed a physician-guided registry approach.
- This design allows comparison of random assignment versus physician choice for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term outcomes of physician-guided treatment selection versus random assignment for PTCA and CABG.
- To compare the effectiveness of PTCA and CABG in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease within a registry setting.
- To assess the impact of treatment choice on survival, particularly in diabetic patients.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of baseline characteristics and 7-year outcomes between PTCA and CABG in the BARI registry and randomized trial.
- Statistical adjustments were applied to account for differences in baseline patient characteristics.
- Analysis focused on overall mortality and subgroup analyses, including treated diabetics.
Main Results:
- In the registry, PTCA was selected more often than CABG (1189 vs. 625).
- Seven-year mortality was similar for PTCA (13.9%) and CABG (14.2%) in the registry (P=0.66), even after adjustment.
- Treated diabetics in the registry had equally high mortality (26%) with either PTCA or CABG; PTCA mortality was higher in the randomized trial than the registry (19.1% vs. 13.9%, P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- BARI physicians successfully selected PTCA over CABG for 65% of registry patients undergoing revascularization.
- Physician-guided treatment selection did not compromise long-term survival in the overall population or in treated diabetics.
- The study supports the feasibility of physician-guided revascularization strategies without negatively impacting long-term patient survival.
Background:
The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI) included 4039 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease; 1829 consented to randomization, and 2010 did not but were followed up in a registry. Thus, we can evaluate the outcome of physician-guided versus random assignment of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).
Methods And Results:
We compared the baseline features and outcomes for PTCA and CABG in the overall registry and its predesignated subgroups. We assessed the impact of treatment by choice versus random assignment by comparing the results in the registry with those of the randomized trial. Statistical adjustments for differences in baseline characteristics were made. Within the registry, nearly twice as many patients were selected for PTCA (1189) as CABG (625); mortality at 7 years was similar for PTCA (13.9%) and CABG (14.2%) (P=0.66) before and after adjustment for baseline differences between patients selected for PTCA versus CABG (adjusted RR, 1.02; P=0.86). In contrast to the randomized trial, the 7-year mortality rate of treated diabetics in the registry was equally high (26%) with PTCA or CABG. Seven-year mortality was higher for patients undergoing PTCA in the randomized trial than in the registry (19.1% versus 13.9%, P<0.01) but not for those undergoing CABG (15.6% versus 14.2%, P=0.57). The adjusted relative mortality risk for PTCA in the randomized versus registry population was 1.17 (P=0.16).
Conclusions:
BARI physicians were able to select PTCA rather than CABG for 65% of registry patients who underwent revascularization without compromising long-term survival either in the overall population or in treated diabetics.
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