Outcomes in African Americans and whites after percutaneous coronary intervention.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine whether African Americans and whites have different outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).


METHODS
We prospectively selected 8832 patients (707 African Americans) for long-term follow-up after PCI at our institution from 1992 to 2002. The primary outcome studied was death or myocardial infarction at 1 year. Propensity adjustment was performed to account for baseline differences between African Americans and whites.


RESULTS
African Americans had higher rates of diabetes and less prior revascularization. Percutaneous coronary interventions in African Americans were more often urgent. Stent use was similar. Procedural success rates were similar, as were periprocedural and 30-day composite rates of death or myocardial infarction. In 1-year unadjusted outcomes, African Americans had a higher rate of death or myocardial infarction (18.0% vs 14.5%; hazard ratio (HR) = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04 to 1.50; P = 0.017), but the difference was no longer significant after propensity adjustment (HR = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.43, P = 0.087). African Americans had a higher risk for periprocedural bleeding that persisted after propensity adjustment (adjusted odds ratio = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.84, P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
After PCI, African Americans have similar short-term rates of death or myocardial infarction when compared with whites but have a nonsignificant trend toward worse long-term outcomes. Our findings, when interpreted in the context of reportedly lower revascularization rates among African Americans, suggest that continued efforts to optimize the appropriate use of coronary revascularization among African Americans are warranted.
Chen
Michael S
MS
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Bhatt
Deepak L
DL
Chew
Derek P
DP
Moliterno
David J
DJ
Ellis
Stephen G
SG
Topol
Eric J
EJ
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People