EVALUATING PCI EFFICACY IN MULTI-VESSEL CAD: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Multi-vessel CAD presents a significant clinical challenge, often necessitating comprehensive revascularization strategies. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) has emerged as a vital treatment modality, offering a less invasive alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for restoring coronary blood flow and alleviating symptoms.

Objective: This prospective study aims to evaluate the efficacy of PCI in patients with multi-vessel CAD, focusing on improvements in quality of life and reduction in angina episodes. Secondary objectives include assessing rehospitalization rates and the incidence of adverse events within six months post-PCI.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) from January 2020 to December 2022. The study included 303 participants diagnosed with multi-vessel CAD, aged 40-89 years, who underwent PCI. Primary outcomes measured were quality of life and angina episodes, assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) pre- and Post-PCI. Secondary outcomes included rehospitalization rates and adverse events. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0, with paired t-tests employed to compare pre- and Post-PCI outcomes. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The baseline characteristics of the study population showed a mean age of 65.4 years, with a majority being male (63.4%). Post-PCI, there was a significant improvement in the quality of life score, with a mean increase of 15.3 points and a median improvement of 16.0. Additionally, the mean number of angina episodes decreased from 5.2 pre-PCI to 1.4 post-PCI. Figure 1 illustrates the significant improvement in quality of life scores post-PCI, depicting a noticeable upward trend across the cohort.

Rehospitalization within the first six months Post-PCI was observed in 8.6% of participants. Minor complications occurred in 4.3% of patients, while major complications were noted in 1.3%.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that PCI significantly improves the quality of life and reduces angina episodes in patients with multi-vessel CAD. These findings support the integration of PCI into treatment protocols for this patient population, offering substantial clinical benefits. Further research is warranted to explore long-term outcomes and refine patient selection criteria to optimize treatment strategies.