Nitrates as a Marker of Multiple Co-morbidities and Increased Mortality in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Background Notwithstanding the guideline endorsement of various anti-anginal medications, there is a paucity of data on whether one anti-anginal regimen or medication is superior to another. It is also unknown how anti-anginal medications affect outcomes of elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated an association between commonly used anti-anginal medications and elective PCI outcomes in stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) patients. Methods Using the New York State's (NYS) PCI Reporting System, we reviewed data on 33,568 consecutive patients who underwent non-emergent PCI in 2015. The primary endpoint of this study was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Results Regardless of the combination therapy of nitrates with any other non-nitrate anti-anginal therapy, including beta-adrenergic blockers (BB) and/or calcium channel blockers (CCB), nitrate treatment continued to be associated with significantly increased post-elective PCI mortality. Conclusions In this large, all-inclusive state-wide contemporary cohort study of SIHD patients, treatment with nitrates, but not beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or ranolazine, was associated with increased post-PCI mortality. Utilization of nitrate therapy is likely reflective of advanced disease burden rather than directly related to the specific medication intolerance. Additional studies investigating optimal anti-anginal medical therapy on PCI outcomes are warranted.