"Long-term FREEDOM - At Nearly 8 Years, CABG Maintains Mortality Benefit Over PCI" - Michael O’Riordan
Extended follow-up of patients with type 2 diabetes and multivessel disease who participated in the FREEDOM trial shows that coronary artery bypass graft surgery retains a significant mortality advantage when compared with PCI. After a median follow-up of 7.5 years, the data showed that CABG remained superior to PCI with a drug-eluting stent, with those undergoing PCI at a 36 percent increased risk of all-cause mortality when compared with surgical patients, reported senior investigator Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, director of Mount Sinai Heart and physician in chief for the Mount Sinai Hospital, at the American Heart Association 2018 Scientific Sessions. “Follow-up beyond 5 years in coronary revascularization trials is unusual owing to a lack of funding and logistical obstacles,” said Dr. Fuster during a presentation at the late-breaking clinical trial session. Considering the long-term nature of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the initial FREEDOM trial “was a relatively short-term study and longer-term follow-up was needed for a better understanding of the comparative benefit of CABG surgery, specifically on mortality,” he said.
— Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, Professor, Medicine, Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, Mount Sinai Heart, Physician in Chief, Mount Sinai Hospital