Procedural success and complications following percutaneous coronary interventions among Asians and Pacific Islanders

Although Asians and Pacific Islanders (PI) make up the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, little is known about the clinical characteristics, procedural success, and procedure-related complications of those who undergo percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

This study investigated PCI procedural success and procedural complications among PI and Asian patients in comparison with Caucasians.

We examined clinical characteristics, procedural success (post-PCI lesion < 50%) and procedure-related complications (hemorrhage, renal failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, bypass surgery, death) for all patients undergoing PCI at our hospital from January 1999 to June 2003.

Overall, 2,598 PCIs were performed--1,058 (39%) in Caucasians, 1,163 (43%) in Asians, and 377 (14%) in PIs. The mean age of PIs (59 +/- 11 years) was significantly lower than that of Caucasians (65 +/- 12 years) and Asians (66 +/- 12 years). The mean body mass index (26 +/- 5) of Asians was significantly lower, while that of PIs (31 +/- 7) was significantly higher than that of Caucasians (28 +/- 6). More Asians (33.3%) and PIs (40.5%) had diabetes mellitus than did Caucasians (19.9%). More Asians (71.6%) and PIs (76.1%) had hypertension than did Caucasians (61.9%). Renal failure was more prevalent in Asians and PIs (6.0 and 7.4%, respectively) than in Caucasians (3.8%). Other than a higher prevalence of disease involving the left anterior descending vessel in Asians (56.4%) compared with Caucasians (50.4%), angiographic features across the three races were similar. There was no significant difference in procedural success (approximately 94%) or procedure-related complications among Caucasians (6.4%), Asians (7.1%), and PIs (4.3%).

Although PIs and Asians have a substantially higher burden of comorbidities than Caucasians, race does not appear to influence PCI procedural success or procedure-related complications.