Bare-Metal and Drug-Eluting Stents: What’s the Bottom Line?

Results of a retrospective study of Medicare patients suggest that, on balance, drug-eluting stents have improved outcomes.

Several recent observational studies have addressed the trade-offs of using bare-metal stents (BMS) versus drug-eluting stents (DES) to treat coronary atherosclerosis (JW Cardiol Jun 4 2008). In this population-wide study of Medicare-eligible patients, investigators compared outcomes in 38,917 patients who received BMS from October 2002 through March 2003 with outcomes in 28,086 patients who received any stent from September through December 2003. In the latter group, 61.5% of the patients received DES (sirolimus-eluting only) and 38.5% received BMS.

Baseline characteristics of the two cohorts were similar, except for a slightly higher prevalence of diabetes in the DES era. After 2 years of follow-up, the rate of repeat revascularization was…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)