A new international study led by cardiologists from the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) reveals that immediate treatment of constricted blood vessels not directly involved in a heart attack may lower the risk of future cardiovascular events.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study could have significant implications for clinical practice and healthcare economics.
Heart attacks are usually caused by the acute blockage of a coronary artery, and immediate intervention is critical to restore blood supply to the cardiac muscles.
However, many patients also have additional blood vessels that are constricted but not directly involved in the heart attack. Previously, it was unclear when these additional constrictions should be treated.
Study Design
The study, led by Senior Attending Physician Barbara Stähli at USZ’s Clinic for Cardiology, sought to determine whether immediate treatment of these additional constrictions is as effective as delayed treatment.
The study involved 840 patients with heart attacks and multi-vessel coronary artery disease, divided into two groups.
The first group received immediate treatment for the constricted vessels not directly involved in the heart attack, while the second group underwent a planned second procedure 19 to 45 days later.
Key Findings
The results showed that immediate treatment led to significantly fewer heart attacks and unplanned ischemia-related interventions.
Specifically, only 8.5% of patients in the immediate treatment group experienced complications like repeat heart attacks, compared to 16.3% in the delayed treatment group.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Barbara Stähli stated, “For the first time, we were able to show that the immediate treatment of all coronary arteries lowers the risk of later heart attacks and also the need for re-intervention.”
The findings suggest that immediate treatment not only improves patient outcomes but also eliminates the need for a second planned procedure and re-hospitalization, potentially offering financial savings.
Financial Interest and Professional Recommendations
The study has garnered interest from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and could influence future guidelines, offering a more effective, cost-saving treatment strategy for heart attack patients with multi-vessel disease.
Conclusion
This study provides compelling evidence for the benefits of immediate intervention for constricted vessels not directly involved in the heart attack.
As healthcare systems seek to optimize both patient outcomes and costs, these findings could revolutionize treatment protocols for heart attack patients.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that common high blood pressure drugs may increase the risk of heart disease, and how to control cholesterol to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about food that could strongly increase heart disease risk, and results showing these dietary supplements may prevent heart disease, and stroke.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
