Myocardial Revascularization Strategies in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Without Urgent Revascularization: Insight From a Nationwide Study.

Objective: To analyze the outcomes of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without early (<48 hours) revascularization, according to percutaneous versus surgical revascularization.

Patients And Methods: Based on the French administrative hospital discharge database, the study collected information for all consecutive patients seen for a STEMI in France between January 1, 2010, to June 31, 2019, who underwent either a first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or a first coronary artery bypass graft between 48 hours and 90 days after the index hospitalization. Propensity score matching was used for the analysis of outcomes.

Results: Of 71,365 patients with STEMI in the analysis, 59,340 patients underwent PCI and 12,025 patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft. In a matched analysis of 12,012 patients by arm, surgical revascularization was associated with lower rates of all cause (5.1% vs 7.1%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.75) and cardiovascular (2.6% vs 3.1%; HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.91) death. Rehospitalization for heart failure was less often reported after surgery (5.5% vs 7.5%; HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.81) whereas stroke incidence was not statistically different between the two arms (2.1% vs 2.3%; HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.00). Major bleeding was less often reported in the PCI arm (4.6% vs 6.1%; HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.41).

Conclusion: In patients with STEMI who did not undergo urgent revascularization (ie, within 48 hours after presentation), surgical revascularization was associated with better outcomes and should be individually considered as an alternative to PCI.