Early coronary revascularization among ‘stable’ patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: the role of diabetes and age

To investigate the impact of an early coronary revascularization (<24 h) compared with initial conservative strategy on clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who are in stable condition at hospital admission.

The International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndromes database was queried for a sample of diabetic and nondiabetic patients with diagnosis of NSTE-ACS. Patients with cardiac arrest, haemodynamic instability, and serious ventricular arrhythmias were excluded. The characteristics between groups were adjusted using logistic regression and inverse probability of treatment weighting models. Primary outcome measure was all-cause 30-day mortality. Risk ratios (RRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed. Of the 7589 NSTE-ACS patients identified, 2343 were diabetics. The data show a notable reduction in mortality for the elderly (>65 years) undergoing early revascularization compared to those receiving an initial conservative strategy both in the diabetic (3.3% vs. 6.7%; RR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.28–0.80) and nondiabetic patients (2.7% vs. 4.7%: RR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.36–0.90). In multivariate analyses, diabetes was a strong independent predictor of mortality in the elderly (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.03–1.99), but not in the younger patients (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.53–2.06).

Early coronary revascularization does not lead to any survival advantage within 30 days from admission in young NSTE-ACS patients who present to hospital in stable conditions with and without diabetes. An early invasive management strategy may be best reserved for the elderly. Factors beyond revascularization are of considerable importance for outcome in elderly diabetic subjects with NSTE-ACS.

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776.