Study Demonstrates Real-World Clinical and Economic Burden of Angina After PCI

December 16, 2016—Findings from a study of the contemporary, real-world clinical and economic burden associated with angina after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were published by Ori Ben-Yehuda, MD, et al in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions (2016;88:1017–1024).

In the study, a multipayer administrative claims database was used to identify adults with incident inpatient PCI admissions between 2008 and 2011 and at least 12 months of continuous medical and pharmacy benefits before and after the procedure. Patients were followed for up to 36 months. Using these claims, post-PCI outcomes, including angina or chest pain, acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, repeat PCI, health care service utilization, and costs, were assessed.

Of 51,710 study patients (mean age, 61.8 years; 72% male), 28% and 40% had post-PCI angina or chest pain by 12 and 36 months, respectively. Compared with patients who did not experience chest pain, angina, or acute coronary syndrome, total health care costs were 1.8 times greater for patients with angina or chest pain in the first year after the index PCI ($32,437 vs $17,913; P  <  .001). These cost differentials continued to 36 months.

After PCI, angina is a frequent and expensive outcome; as such, further research is needed to identify risk factors and potentially improve outcomes for post-PCI angina, concluded the investigators in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.