Targeted stent use in clinical practice based on evidence from the BAsel Stent Cost Effectiveness Trial (BASKET)

Aim It is unknown which patients benefit most from drug-eluting stents (DES) against bare-metal stents (BMS) in a long-term clinical outcome. Methods and results To address this question, data from 826 consecutive patients with angioplasty, randomized 2:1 to DES vs. BMS, with an 18-month follow-up for cardiac death/myocardial infarction (MI) and non-MI-related target-vessel revascularization (TVR) were analysed for interactions between stent type and patient/vessel characteristics predicting events. Rates of 18-month TVRs were lower with DES vs. BMS use (7.5 vs. 11.6%, P = 0.05), but similar for both stents regarding cardiac death/MI (DES, 8.4%; BMS, 7.5%; P = 0.70). Significant interactions between stent type and two multivariable event predictors were identified: small stents (< 3.0 mm) and bypass graft stenting. In these patient groups together (n = 268, 32%), DES reduced non-MI-related TVR (HR = 0.44; P = 0.02) and cardiac death/MI (HR = 0.44; P = 0.04), whereas in the other 558 patients (68%) TVR rate was similar (HR = 0.75; P = 0.38) and cardiac death/MI rate increased after DES (HR = 2.07; P = 0.05). Conclusion Patients with angioplasty of small vessels or bypass grafts seem to benefit from DES use, in long-term outcome, in contrast to patients with large native vessel stenting where there might even be late harm. Still, this hypothesis needs to be tested prospectively.