Background: Subclavian artery stenosis (SAS) is narrowing of the subclavian artery most commonly caused by atherosclerosis. It serves as a marker for cerebrovascular and myocardial ischemic events.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the association of treatment via combination therapy (antiplatelet drug plus either by-pass surgery or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stent implantation) versus antiplatelet drug therapy alone on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in Marshfield Clinic patients diagnosed with symptomatic SAS from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2009.