Efficacy and Safety of Polymer-Free Ultrathin Strut Sirolimus-Probucol Coated Drug-Eluting Stents for Chronic Total Occlusions: Insights from the Coroflex ISAR 2000 Worldwide Registry

Objective. Coronary revascularization in chronic total occlusion (CTO) is associated with improved clinical outcomes. The choice of the coronary stent is crucial in maintaining long-term vessel patency after CTO revascularization. We investigated the efficacy and safety of polymer-free ultrathin strut sirolimus-probucol coated drug-eluting stents (PF-SES) for CTO lesions. Methods. Patients with CTO lesions treated with PF-SES were identified from the prospective multicenter international ISAR 2000 registry. The primary endpoint was clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 9 months. Secondary endpoints were 9-month major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, or TLR) (MACE) and the occurrence of stent thrombosis. Results. A total of 111 patients with CTO lesions (n=127) were available for analysis. The 9-month clinical follow-up rate was 91%. The mean reference vessel diameter and lesion length were 2.76 mm ± 0.40 and 26.8 mm ± 13.1, respectively. The overall DAPT duration was 9.7 ± 2.8 months. Only one (1%) in-hospital MI was reported. The TLR and MACE rates at 9 months were 2% (2/101) and 5.9% (6/101), respectively. The 9-month accumulated rates of definite or probable stent thrombosis was 0% (0/101). Conclusion. Revascularizations for CTO with PF-SES are associated with low rates of TLR and MACE at 9 months with no stent thrombosis. These initial findings need to be compared with results of other new generation DES of larger studies

Results from the “Me & My Heart” (eMocial) Study: a Randomized Evaluation of a New Smartphone-Based Support Tool to Increase Therapy Adherence of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Purpose: This study evaluated whether patient support, administered via an electronic device-based app, increased adherence to treatment and lifestyle changes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) treated with ticagrelor in routine clinical practice. Methods: Patients (aged >= 18 years) with diagnosed ACS treated with ticagrelor co-administered with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid were randomized into an active group (with support tool app for medication intake reminders and motivational messages) and a control group (without support tool app), and observed for 48 weeks (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02615704). Patients were asked to complete the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Lifestyle Changes Questionnaire (LSQ), and were assessed for blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) at baseline (visit 1) and at the end of the study (visit 2). Medication adherence was measured using the Brilique Adherence Questionnaire (BAQ). Results: Patients (N = 676) were randomized to an active (n = 342) or a control (n = 334) group. BAQ data were available for 174 patients in the active group and 174 patients in the control group. Over the 48-week period, mean (standard deviation) adherence for the active and control groups was 96.4% (13.2%) and 91.5% (23.1%), respectively (effect of app intervention, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in blood pressure and BMI between visits. General improvements in SF-36 and LSQ scores were observed for both groups. Conclusion: The patient support tool app was associated with significant improvements in patient-reported treatment adherence compared with a data collection app alone in patients prescribed ticagrelor for ACS

Kliniczne i zastępcze punkty końcowe w badaniach nad niedokrwieniem kończyn: czy statystyka hamuje postęp?

Wstęp: Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie współczesnych poglądów na kliniczne i zastępcze punkty końcowe, które mogą zostać uwzględnione w przyszłych badaniach nad pacjentami z niedokrwieniem kończyn (peripheral artery occlusive disease; PAOD). Opisanie ograniczeń metod statystycznych najczęściej stosowanych punktów końcowych oraz zaproponowanie wytycznych projektowania badań na określonej wielkości populacji pacjentów wydaje się zasadne. Zaproponowane punkty końcowe mogą zostać wykorzystane w badaniach dotyczących leczenia chirurgicznego, farmakologicznego i/lub rewaskularyzacji zabiegowej. Materiał i metody: W oparciu o niedawno opublikowane przeglądy literatury dotyczące najczęściej używanych punktów końcowych i projektowania badań, oceniono przydatność owych punktów dla celów refundacyjnych. Opierając się na owych potencjalnych punktach końcowyc oraz na wielkości próbki pacjentów, oceniono wskaźniki odpowiednie do wielkości refundacji z wykorzystaniem różnorodnych testów statystycznych. Wyniki: Rozważając kliniczną przydatność dla pacjentów i płatników, najbardziej przydatnymi punktami końcowymi dla stosunkowo niewielkiej populacji badanej są: dystans chodu (walking distance; WD) oraz wskaźnik kostkowo-ramienny (anklebrachial index; ABI) – przy założeniu kontroli pozostałych czynników pozanaczyniowych. Angiograficzne punkty końcowe, takie jak minimalna średnica światła (minimal lumen diameter; MLD), pomimo ich intuicyjności, nie wydają się przydatne z punktu widzenia refundacji. Inne przydatne punkty zastępcze, takie jak przezskórny pomiar wysycenia tlenem u pacjentów z krytycznym niedokrwieniem kończyn (critical limb ischemia; CLI) muszą dopiero zostać ocenione, aby móc uzyskać pierwsze dane dotyczące ich przydatności dla większej grupy pacjentów. Wnioski: Z punktu widzenia refundacji, WD i ABI są przydatnymi punktami końcowymi w badaniach na populacji średniej wielkości, przy założeniu, że czynniki pozanaczyniowe mogące wpływać na wyniki są kontrolowane

Surrogate and clinical endpoints for studies in peripheral artery occlusive disease: Are statistics the brakes?

Background: The aim of this review is to present the available clinical and surrogate endpoints that may be used in future studies performed in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). Importantly, we describe statistical limitations of the most commonly used endpoints and offer some guidance with respect to study design for a given sample size. The proposed endpoints may be used in studies using surgical or interventional revascularization and/or drug treatments. Methods: Considering recently published study endpoints and designs, the usefulness of these endpoints for reimbursement is evaluated. Based on these potential study endpoints and patient sample size estimates with different non-inferiority or tests for difference hypotheses, a rating relative to their corresponding reimbursement values is attempted. Results: As regards the benefit for the patients and for the payers, walking distance and the ankle brachial index (ABI) are the most feasible endpoints in a relatively small study samples given that other non-vascular impact factors can be controlled. Angiographic endpoints such as minimal lumen diameter (MLD) do not seem useful from a reimbursement standpoint despite their intuitiveness. Other surrogate endpoints, such as transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements, have yet to be established as useful endpoints in reasonably sized studies with patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Conclusions: From a reimbursement standpoint, WD and ABI are effective endpoints for a moderate study sample size given that non-vascular confounding factors can be controlled

Surrogate and clinical endpoints for studies in peripheral artery occlusive disease: Are statistics the brakes?

Background: The aim of this review is to present the available clinical and surrogate endpoints that may be used in future studies performed in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). Importantly, we describe statistical limitations of the most commonly used endpoints and offer some guidance with respect to study design for a given sample size. The proposed endpoints may be used in studies using surgical or interventional revascularization and/or drug treatments. Methods: Considering recently published study endpoints and designs, the usefulness of these endpoints for reimbursement is evaluated. Based on these potential study endpoints and patient sample size estimates with different non-inferiority or tests for difference hypotheses, a rating relative to their corresponding reimbursement values is attempted. Results: As regards the benefit for the patients and for the payers, walking distance and the ankle brachial index (ABI) are the most feasible endpoints in a relatively small study samples given that other non-vascular impact factors can be controlled. Angiographic endpoints such as minimal lumen diameter (MLD) do not seem useful from a reimbursement standpoint despite their intuitiveness. Other surrogate endpoints, such as transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements, have yet to be established as useful endpoints in reasonably sized studies with patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Conclusions: From a reimbursement standpoint, WD and ABI are effective endpoints for a moderate study sample size given that non-vascular confounding factors can be controlled