Inadequate Reporting of Concomitant Drug Treatment in Cardiovascular Interventional Head‐to‐Head Trials

Background: Optimal revascularization strategy is still under debate in patients with coronary artery disease, particularly due to the results of the Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial. Although medical prevention has been clearly shown to be beneficial in coronary artery disease, it has been suggested that patients were significantly undertreated with evidence-based medications for cardiovascular protection. Hypothesis: The purpose of the study was to evaluate concomitant medical treatment in cardiovascular interventional head-to-head trials comparing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A systematic search of the literature regarding documentation and reports of medical treatment in cardiovascular interventional head-to-head trials with more than 500 patients comparing CABG and PCI was performed. Results: Systematic research of the literature identified 2106 articles of potential interest. After review and selection, only 3 trials reported on medical treatment. Baseline medication was reported in the RITA (Randomized Intervention Treatment of Angina), CABRI (Coronary Angioplasty versus Bypass Revascularisation Investigation), and SYNTAX trials, and follow-up data were provided by the CABRI and SYNTAX 3-year trials only. Conclusions: Poor reporting of medical treatment at discharge might reflect an underestimation of secondary prevention in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or interventional procedures in head-to-head interventional trials. Thus, discussion of optimal revascularization procedure has to remain open, even in terms of concomitant medical treatment of patients. Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.