title: Lack of benefit from percutaneous intervention of persistently occluded infarct arteries after the acute phase of myocardial infarction is time independent: insights from Occluded Artery Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Occluded Artery Trial (OAT) (n = 2201) showed no benefit for routine percutaneous intervention (PCI) (n = 1101) over medical therapy (MED) (n = 1100) on the combined endpoint of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and class IV heart failure (congestive heart failure) in stable post-MI patients with late occluded infarct-related arteries (IRAs). We evaluated the potential for selective benefit with PCI over MED for patients enrolled early in OAT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We explored outcomes with PCI over MED in patients randomized to the </=3 calendar days and </=7 calendar days post-MI time windows. Earlier, times to randomization in OAT were associated with higher rates of the combined endpoint (adjusted HR 1.04/day: 99% CI 1.01-1.06; P < 0.001). The 48-month event rates for </=3 days, </=7 days post-MI enrolled patients were similar for PCI vs. MED for the combined and individual endpoints. There was no interaction between time to randomization defined as a continuous (P = 0.55) or categorical variable with a cut-point of 3 days (P = 0.98) or 7 days (P = 0.64) post-MI and treatment effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with overall OAT findings, patients enrolled in the </=3 day and </=7 day post-MI time windows derived no benefit with PCI over MED with no interaction between time to randomization and treatment effect. Our findings do not support routine PCI of the occluded IRA in trial-eligible patients even in the earliest 24-72 h time window.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, F-15, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 4419, USA.
authors.forename: Venu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Camille A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pearte
authors.forename: Christopher E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.forename: Ph Gabriel
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Steg
authors.forename: Sandra A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Harvey D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Paolo N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Demosthenes G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Katritsis
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramori
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lasevitch
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loboz-Grudzien
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zurakowski
authors.forename: Gervasio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Lamas
authors.forename: Judith S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hochman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome