Background:
Transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (TRI) has been increasingly used in the treatment of ischemic heart disease. While there are few studies examining the costs and benefits of transradial vs. transfemoral (TFI) in experienced centers among highly selected patients, treatment patterns and cost data obtained from the United States and European countries might not be generalizable to the developing world.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing PCI in the largest heart center in China between January and December 2010. Propensity score inverse probability weighting (IPW) method was used to compare costs and in-hospital outcomes between TRI and TFI, while controlling for potential treatment selection inherent in observational research.
Results:
Of 5,307patients undergoing PCI, 4,684 (88.3%) received TRI. Those undergoing TRI were younger, were less likely to be female, less likely to have prior myocardial infarction, PCI, or CABG, and more often presented with STEMI. After IPW adjustment, TRI was associated with fewer bleeding complications (BARC≥3 0.7% vs. 2.2%, OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18-0.68), major adverse cardiovascular event (a composite of death, myocardial infarction, BARC bleeding≥3 or unplanned revascularization; 1.8% vs. 4.0%, OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.31-0.79), and shorter length of stay (6.1 vs 8.3 days, adjusted difference -1.5 days, 95% CI -1.9 to -1.2;
Table
). TRI was associated with a cost saving of $1,261 (95% CI $967-$1,557) as compared with TFI. The cost saving was mainly driven by reduced procedural-related cost ($761) from differential use of vascular closure device and lower hospitalization cost ($217) related to shorter length of stay. Similar results were found in clinically relevant groups of myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI), acute coronary syndrome (STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina), and stable angina.
Conclusions:
Compared with the TFI approach, TRI was associated with fewer complications, shorter length of stay, lower costs, and improved in-hospital outcomes.
Length of stay following percutaneous coronary intervention: An expert consensus document update from the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions
