Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine for patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (ICWM-PCI): A Prospective Observational Real-World Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine (ICWM) is widely used in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in China. However, the evidence-based on the long-term prognosis and large sample on this topic are weak. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between the therapeutic effect of ICWM and the prognosis of patients after PCI.Methods This study is a prospective observational real-world cohort study that was conducted from September 2016 to August 2019 in Fuwai Hospital. The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. We consecutively screened 6000 patients after PCI and they were followed up for 2 years. ICWM were related to prognostic outcomes using unadjusted (Kaplan-Meier curves) and risk-adjusted (multivariable Cox regression) analyses. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, revascularization, and myocardial infarction.Results A total of 5942 patients after PCI were enrolled in this study, 5453 patients were included in the final analysis (4189[76.8%] were male; mean [SD] age, 61.91[9.91] years). There were 2932 patients (53.8%) in western medicine group (WMG) and 2521 patients (46.2%) in integrated medicine group (IMG). Cox regression analysis showed that IMG had a 27% lower cumulative risk of the major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) than WMG (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.63-0.85; P＜0.0001), especially in all-cause mortality and revascularization.Conclusions Among patients after PCI, ICWM compared with conventional western medicine was correlated with a lower risk of 2-year MACE. Further research is needed to provide higher levels of evidence.