Analysis of recurrent revascularization events following percutaneous coronary intervention of diabetic patients

Aim. Greater incidence of recurrent events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been described among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). A clear actual picture of these events can hitherto be considered as lacking. Aim of this study was to describe frequency and peculiarity of recurrent cardiovascular events following PCI in a group of high risk DM patients and to compare the impact of repeat PCI and/or surgical revascularizations on the need of further coronary interventions in a long-term follow-up. Methods. 254 consecutive DM patients undergoing PCI for known coronary artery disease (CAD) were followed by outpatient visits for 39±9 months. The registered endpoints were target vessel PCI (TVR PCI), target vessel surgical revascularizations (TVR CABG), non target vessel percutaneous revascularization interventions (NON TVR PCI), and no repeat revascularizations. Results. 74 (35%) of the DM patients undergoing an index PCI required further revascularization and 10 (17%) patients needed more than one repeat TVR procedure. Second TVR revascularisation procedures occurred similarly following first PCI (15%) or surgical revascularisation (17%) driven by coronary lesions located in epicardial vessels treated during the index PCI. Patients undergoing TVR surgical revascularisation disclosed a higher probability of incurring in a second PCI driven by coronary lesions located in epicardial vessels not previously treated (P=0.003) compared to those approached by PCI. Conclusion. The present study reports on a seemingly superior coronary protection of PCI compared to surgical revascularization in preventing disease progression upon the native coronary arteries. These results need confirmation in larger population samples.