Chronic Total Occlusions in Non-Infarct-Related Coronary Arteries and Long-Term Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients
Irzal Hadžibegović1,2, Ivana Jurin1, Mihajlo Kovačić3
1Department for Cardiovascular Diseases, Dubrava University Hospital, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Insights
Patients with non-infarct-related artery chronic total occlusions (non-IRA CTO) during acute coronary syndromes have worse outcomes. Low adherence to medical therapy is the strongest predictor of cardiovascular mortality, necessitating closer follow-up and optimized treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Clinical Outcomes Research
Background:
- Non-infarct-related artery chronic total occlusions (non-IRA CTO) are frequently encountered during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
- Patients with non-IRA CTO exhibit poorer clinical outcomes compared to those without.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the long-term clinical outcomes of patients with non-IRA CTO identified during ACS treatment.
- To investigate the impact of clinical characteristics, revascularization strategies, and medical therapy adherence on outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A dual-center registry of 1950 ACS patients who underwent PCI and survived to discharge was analyzed.
- Patients were followed for a median of 49 months to assess clinical outcomes, revascularization, and medical therapy adherence.
- Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality.
Main Results:
- 171 patients (9%) had non-IRA CTO, presenting with older age, more diabetes mellitus, higher Syntax scores, and lower LVEF.
- Non-IRA CTO patients showed lower adherence to medical therapy and significantly higher cardiovascular mortality (18% vs. 8%).
- Lower LVEF, worse renal function, diabetes mellitus, and particularly low adherence to medical therapy were independent predictors of mortality.
Conclusions:
- Patients with non-IRA CTO during ACS have unfavorable clinical profiles, reduced adherence to medical therapy, and increased cardiovascular mortality.
- A focused follow-up strategy is crucial to enhance adherence to optimal medical therapy and consider non-IRA CTO revascularization when appropriate.
Abstract:
Background and aim: Patients with non-infarct-related artery chronic total occlusion (non-IRA CTO) found during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) are not rare and have worse clinical outcomes. We aimed to analyze their long-term clinical outcomes in regard to clinical characteristics, revascularization strategies, and adherence to medical therapy. Patients and methods: The dual-center ACS registry of patients treated from Jan 2017 to May 2023 was used to identify 1950 patients with timely PCI in ACS who survived to discharge with documented adequate demographic, clinical, and angiographic characteristics, treatment strategies, and medical therapy adherence during a median follow-up time of 49 months. Results: There were 171 (9%) patients with non-IRA CTO. In comparison to patients without non-IRA CTO, they were older, with more diabetes mellitus (DM), higher Syntax scores (median 27.5 vs. 11.5), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at discharge (median LVEF 50% vs. 55%). There was also a lower proportion of patients with high adherence to medical therapy (32% vs. 46%). Patients with non-IRA CTO had significantly higher cardiovascular mortality during follow-up (18% vs. 8%, RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.27-2.75). After adjusting for relevant clinical and treatment characteristics in a multivariate Cox regression analysis, only lower LVEF, worse renal function, the presence of DM, and lower adherence to medical therapy were independently associated with higher cardiovascular mortality during follow-up, with low adherence to medical therapy as the strongest predictor (RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.76-5.75). Time to cardiovascular death was significantly lower in patients who did not receive non-IRA CTO revascularization, although CTO revascularization did not show independent association with survival in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Patients with non-IRA CTO found during ACS treatment have more unfavorable clinical characteristics, worse adherence to medical therapy, and higher cardiovascular mortality. They need a more scrutinized approach during follow-up to increase adherence to optimal medical therapy and to receive revascularization of the non-IRA CTO whenever it is clinically indicated and reasonably achievable without excess risks.
