Incidence and multivariable correlates of long-term mortality in patients treated with surgical or percutaneous revascularization in the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial

Aims The aim of this investigation was to determine the incidence and multivariable correlates of long-term (4-year) mortality in patients treated with surgical or percutaneous revascularization in the synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with TAXUS Express and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial. Methods and results A total of 1800 patients were randomized to undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (n = 897) or PCI (n = 903). Prospectively collected baseline and peri-and post-procedural data were used to determine independent correlates of 4-year all-cause death in the CABG and the PCI arms (Cox proportional hazards model). Four-year mortality rates in the CABG and the PCI arms were 9.0% [74 deaths (12 in-hospital)] and 11.8% [104 deaths (16 in-hospital)], respectively (log-rank P-value = 0.063). Censored data comprised 78 patients (8.7%) in the CABG arm, and 24 patients (2.7%) in the PCI arm (log-rank P-value < 0.001). Within the CABG arm, the strongest independent correlates of 4-year mortality were lack of discharge aspirin [hazard ratio (HR) 3.56; 95% CI: 2.04, 6.21; P < 0.001], peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (HR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.49, 4.72; P = 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, age, and serum creatinine. Within the PCI arm, the strongest independent correlate of 4-year mortality was lack of post-procedural anti-platelet therapy (HR: 152.16; 95% CI: 53.57, 432.22; P < 0.001), with 10 reported early (within 45 days) in-hospital deaths secondary to multifactorial causes precluding administration of anti-platelet therapy. Other independent correlates of mortality in the PCI arm included amiodarone therapy on discharge, pre-procedural poor left ventricular ejection fraction, a 'history of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer disease', PVD (HR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.60; P = 0.005), age, female gender (HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.56; P = 0.048), and the SYNTAX score (Per increase in 10 points: HR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.47; P = 0.007). Conclusion Independent correlates of 4-year mortality in the SYNTAX trial were multifactorial. Lack of discharge aspirin and lack of post-procedural anti-platelet therapy were the strongest independent correlates of mortality in the CABG and the PCI arms, respectively. Peripheral vascular disease is a common independent correlate of 4-year mortality and may be a marker of the severity of baseline coronary disease and risk of future native coronary disease (and extra-cardiac disease) progression.