Optimal Medical Therapy Improves Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Revascularization with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Insights from the SYNTAX Trial at 5-Year Follow-Up [1]
In this manuscript the authors present a post-hoc study of the SYNTAX trial. They compare outcomes between those patients on optimal medical therapy (OMT) and non-optimal medical therapy following revascularization for complex coronary artery disease (CAD). OMT was defined as combination of at least one antiplatelet drug, statin, beta-blocker and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACE-I/ARB). Only one third of the patients were found to be on OMT at 5-year follow up. Lack of OMT was associated with a higher mortality and combined endpoint of death, MI and stroke. These findings reinforce the the importance of OMT use for patients with complex CAD undergoing revascularization.