Introdução: Estudos sobre implicações clínicas da nova definição de infarto do miocárdio (IAM), incorporando novos marcadores de lesão miocárdica, são escassos na literatura. A prevalência de IAM e das suas complicações são diretamente dependentes do critério diagnóstico utilizado. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto diagnóstico, prognóstico e econômico da nova definição de IAM proposta pela AHA/ ESC usando troponina T (TnT) como marcador de lesão cardíaca. Métodos: Um total de 740 pacientes com dor torácica admitidos na Emergência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre no período de julho/ 1999 a janeiro/ 2002 foram incluídos no estudo. Creatina quinase total (CK), CK-MB atividade e TnT foram dosados em uma amostra de 363 pacientes, representativa de toda a coorte. Para redefinição de IAM foram utilizados como ponto de corte valores pico de TnT > 0,2 mg/dl. Os desfechos avaliados foram classificados como eventos cardíacos maiores (angina recorrente, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, choque cardiogênico e óbito) e como procedimentos de revascularização. Também foram avaliados o manejo prescrito, os custos e o faturamento hospitalar. Resultados: Nos 363 pacientes com marcadores dosados, foram diagnosticados 59 casos de IAM (16%) pelos critérios clássicos; enquanto 40 pacientes (11%) tiveram o diagnóstico de IAM pelo critério redefinido, o que corresponde a um incremento de 71% na incidência. Pacientes com IAM redefinido eram significativamente mais idosos e do sexo masculino, apresentaram mais dor atípica e diabetes mellitus. Na análise multivariada, pacientes com infarto redefinido tiveram um risco 5,1 [IC 95% 1,0-28] vezes maior para óbito hospitalar e 3,4 [IC 95% 1,1-10] vezes maior para eventos combinados em relação aqueles sem IAM. O manejo dos casos de IAM redefinido foi semelhante ao manejo daqueles com IAM tradicional, exceto pelos procedimentos de revascularização que foram menos freqüentes (25% vs. 51%, P < 0,001). O grupo com IAM redefinido permaneceu mais tempo internado e foi submetido a procedimentos mais tardiamente. Do ponto de vista institucional, o uso dos novos critérios para IAM poderia resultar em um aumento de 9% (mais R$ 2.756,00 por grupo de 100 pacientes avaliados) no faturamento baseado em diagnóstico segundo a tabela do SUS. Conclusões: O novo diagnóstico de IAM acrescenta um número expressivo de indivíduos com infarto aos serviços de emergência. A incorporação deste critério é importante na medida que estes pacientes têm um prognóstico semelhante aos demais casos tradicionalmente diagnosticados. Como a identificação destes casos poderia resultar em um manejo mais qualificado e eficiente destes pacientes, esforços deveriam ser adotados para reforçar a adoção da redefinição de IAM. / Background: Studies on the clinical implications of the new criteria for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), incorporating cardiac markers of myocardial injury, are scarce in the literature. The prevalence of AMI and its complications are directly dependent on the diagnostic criteria used. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic, prognostic and economic impact of the new diagnostic criteria for AMI proposed by the AHA/ ESC, using cardiac troponin T (cTnT) as cardiac marker. Methods: A total of 740 patients consecutively admitted in the emergency department with chest pain and suspect acute coronary syndrome from July, 1999 to January, 2002 were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristic, hospital management and outcomes were prospectively recorded. Total CK, CK-MB activity and cTnT were measured in a sample of 363 patients, representative of all cohort. Patients without AMI by traditional criteria and cTnT > 0.2 mg/dl were coded as redefined AMI. Major cardiac events evaluated were: recurrent angina, congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock and death, and revascularization procedures. In-hospital management and reimbursement rates were also analyzed. Results: Among 363 patients, 59 (16%) patients had AMI by conventional criteria, whereas 40 (11%) had redefined AMI, an increase of 71% in the incidence. Patients with redefined AMI were significantly older, more male, presented with atypical chest pain and had more diabetes mellitus. In the multivariate analysis, redefined AMI was associated with 5.1 fold higher risk for in-hospital death [95%CI 1.0-28] and a 3.4 fold more cardiac events [95% CI 1.1-10] compared to those without AMI. In-hospital management was similar between patients defined by new and old criteria, except for revascularization procedures, which were less frequent in the redefined group (25% versus 51%, P<0.01). This group had longer length of hospital stay and were submitted latter to invasive procedures. From hospital perspective, based on DRGs (Diagnosis Related Group) payment system, adoption of AMI redefinition would increase 9% in the reimbursement rate or R$ 2756 per 100 patients evaluated. Conclusions: The new criteria result in a substantial increase in the diagnosis of AMI. In addition, it will allow identification of high risk patients with prognosis similar to those diagnosed by classic criteria. Efforts should be made to reinforce the adoption of AMI redefinition, which could result in a more qualified and efficient management of acute coronary syndrome patients.

Objetivos: validar versões em português do Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) para avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes brasileiros com cardiopatia isquêmica. Métodos: estudo transversal com instrumentos traduzidos e aplicados em dois grupos: em 200 pacientes ambulatoriais com cardiopatia isquêmica estável em dois momentos, com intervalo de 14 dias; e em 50 pacientes antes e 30 dias após a angioplastia. Classe funcional foi avaliada pelo Specific Activity Scale. Testes de correlação intraclasse, Cronbach α e Wilcoxon foram utilizados. Resultados: os participantes dos dois grupos apresentaram características clínicodemográficas semelhantes, sendo a taxa de resposta de 78% e 76% no reteste. Reprodutibilidade dos instrumentos (coeficiente α de Cronbach) variou de 0,70 a 0,90 e 0,62 a 0,79 para os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, respectivamente. Estabilidade dos instrumentos em 14 dias (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse) foi >0,68 e >0,49 para os domínios do SF-36 e SAQ. No quesito responsividade, o SF-36 demonstrou melhora nos domínios capacidade funcional (10,5), dor (16,5), vitalidade (13,5), aspecto social (10,1) e saúde mental (9,8); e no SAQ, nos domínios estabilidade (41,1) e freqüência (27,3) da angina e percepção da doença (12,0). Os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, exceto um, foram consistentemente relacionados à classe funcional. Conclusão: as versões traduzidas dos instrumentos mostraram desempenho adequado sem diferenças entre si, sugerindo serem reprodutíveis, responsivas e válidas para a avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica no Brasil. / Objectives: To validate Portuguese-language versions of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for the evaluation of quality of life in Brazilian patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study using instruments translated and applied to two groups: 200 outpatients with stable ischemic cardiomyopathy at two points in time- 14-day interval; and 50 patients pre and 30 days post angioplasty. Functional class was evaluated by the Specific Activity Scale. Intra-class correlation, Cronbach’s alpha and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The participants in both groups presented similar clinical-demographic characteristics, and the rate of response in the retest was 78% and 76%. Reproducibility of the instruments (Cronbach alpha coefficient) varied from 0.70 to 0.90 and 0.62 to 0.79 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains, respectively. Stability of instruments in 14 days (intraclass correlation coefficient) was ≥0.68 and ≥0.49 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains. For the responsiveness item, SF-36 showed improvement in the domains physical functioning (10.5), bodily pain (16.5), vitality (13.5), social functioning (10.1) and mental health (9.8); and in SAQ in those concerning stability (41.1) and frequency (27.3) of angina and disease perception (12.0). The SF-36 and SAQ domains except one were consistently related to functional class. Conclusion: The translated versions of the instruments showed an adequate performance without differences amongst them, suggesting that they are reproducible, responsive and valid to evaluate quality of life in ischemic heart disease patients in Brazil.

O diabetes melito (DM) é um fator de risco independente para doença arterial coronariana, acidente vascular cerebral, doença vascular periférica e insuficiência cardíaca, que são as principais causas de morte nesses pacientes. Além disso, pacientes com DM e doença cardiovascular têm pior prognóstico, por apresentarem menor sobrevida, maior risco de recorrência da doença e pior resposta aos tratamentos propostos. Os avanços diagnósticos e terapêuticos das últimas décadas já mostram uma redução do risco de eventos cardiovasculares nesses pacientes, mas o risco absoluto dos mesmos é ainda duas vezes maior em relação ao dos pacientes não diabéticos. Portanto, é prioritária a adoção de um manejo intensivo, com controle rígido dos fatores de risco cardiovasculares. Esta revisão trata das principais características clínicas e apresenta uma abordagem prática do rastreamento, diagnóstico e tratamento da doença macrovascular nos pacientes com DM. / Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and heart failure, which are the main causes of death in these patients. Moreover, patients with DM and cardiovascular disease have a worse prognosis than nondiabetics, present lower short-term survival, higher risk of recurrence of the disease and a worse response to the treatments proposed. In the last decades, diagnostic and therapeutic progress had already shown benefits concerning cardiovascular risk reduction in these patients, but their absolute mortality risk is still twice that of non-diabetic patients. Because of this, the adoption of intensive treatment, with strict cardiovascular risk factor control, is a priority. The present study presents the main clinical characteristics and also the practical approach for screening, diagnosis and treatment of patients with diabetic macrovascular disease.

Objetivos: validar versões em português do Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) e do Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) para avaliação de qualidade de vida em pacientes brasileiros com cardiopatia isquêmica. Métodos: estudo transversal com instrumentos traduzidos e aplicados em dois grupos: em 200 pacientes ambulatoriais com cardiopatia isquêmica estável em dois momentos, com intervalo de 14 dias; e em 50 pacientes antes e 30 dias após a angioplastia. Classe funcional foi avaliada pelo Specific Activity Scale. Testes de correlação intraclasse, Cronbach α e Wilcoxon foram utilizados. Resultados: os participantes dos dois grupos apresentaram características clínicodemográficas semelhantes, sendo a taxa de resposta de 78% e 76% no reteste. Reprodutibilidade dos instrumentos (coeficiente α de Cronbach) variou de 0,70 a 0,90 e 0,62 a 0,79 para os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, respectivamente. Estabilidade dos instrumentos em 14 dias (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse) foi >0,68 e >0,49 para os domínios do SF-36 e SAQ. No quesito responsividade, o SF-36 demonstrou melhora nos domínios capacidade funcional (10,5), dor (16,5), vitalidade (13,5), aspecto social (10,1) e saúde mental (9,8); e no SAQ, nos domínios estabilidade (41,1) e freqüência (27,3) da angina e percepção da doença (12,0). Os domínios do SF-36 e do SAQ, exceto um, foram consistentemente relacionados à classe funcional. Conclusão: as versões traduzidas dos instrumentos mostraram desempenho adequado sem diferenças entre si, sugerindo serem reprodutíveis, responsivas e válidas para a avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes com cardiopatia isquêmica no Brasil. / Objectives: To validate Portuguese-language versions of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for the evaluation of quality of life in Brazilian patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: Cross-sectional study using instruments translated and applied to two groups: 200 outpatients with stable ischemic cardiomyopathy at two points in time- 14-day interval; and 50 patients pre and 30 days post angioplasty. Functional class was evaluated by the Specific Activity Scale. Intra-class correlation, Cronbach’s alpha and Wilcoxon tests were used. Results: The participants in both groups presented similar clinical-demographic characteristics, and the rate of response in the retest was 78% and 76%. Reproducibility of the instruments (Cronbach alpha coefficient) varied from 0.70 to 0.90 and 0.62 to 0.79 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains, respectively. Stability of instruments in 14 days (intraclass correlation coefficient) was ≥0.68 and ≥0.49 for the SF-36 and SAQ domains. For the responsiveness item, SF-36 showed improvement in the domains physical functioning (10.5), bodily pain (16.5), vitality (13.5), social functioning (10.1) and mental health (9.8); and in SAQ in those concerning stability (41.1) and frequency (27.3) of angina and disease perception (12.0). The SF-36 and SAQ domains except one were consistently related to functional class. Conclusion: The translated versions of the instruments showed an adequate performance without differences amongst them, suggesting that they are reproducible, responsive and valid to evaluate quality of life in ischemic heart disease patients in Brazil.

Introdução: Estudos sobre implicações clínicas da nova definição de infarto do miocárdio (IAM), incorporando novos marcadores de lesão miocárdica, são escassos na literatura. A prevalência de IAM e das suas complicações são diretamente dependentes do critério diagnóstico utilizado. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto diagnóstico, prognóstico e econômico da nova definição de IAM proposta pela AHA/ ESC usando troponina T (TnT) como marcador de lesão cardíaca. Métodos: Um total de 740 pacientes com dor torácica admitidos na Emergência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre no período de julho/ 1999 a janeiro/ 2002 foram incluídos no estudo. Creatina quinase total (CK), CK-MB atividade e TnT foram dosados em uma amostra de 363 pacientes, representativa de toda a coorte. Para redefinição de IAM foram utilizados como ponto de corte valores pico de TnT > 0,2 mg/dl. Os desfechos avaliados foram classificados como eventos cardíacos maiores (angina recorrente, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, choque cardiogênico e óbito) e como procedimentos de revascularização. Também foram avaliados o manejo prescrito, os custos e o faturamento hospitalar. Resultados: Nos 363 pacientes com marcadores dosados, foram diagnosticados 59 casos de IAM (16%) pelos critérios clássicos; enquanto 40 pacientes (11%) tiveram o diagnóstico de IAM pelo critério redefinido, o que corresponde a um incremento de 71% na incidência. Pacientes com IAM redefinido eram significativamente mais idosos e do sexo masculino, apresentaram mais dor atípica e diabetes mellitus. Na análise multivariada, pacientes com infarto redefinido tiveram um risco 5,1 [IC 95% 1,0-28] vezes maior para óbito hospitalar e 3,4 [IC 95% 1,1-10] vezes maior para eventos combinados em relação aqueles sem IAM. O manejo dos casos de IAM redefinido foi semelhante ao manejo daqueles com IAM tradicional, exceto pelos procedimentos de revascularização que foram menos freqüentes (25% vs. 51%, P < 0,001). O grupo com IAM redefinido permaneceu mais tempo internado e foi submetido a procedimentos mais tardiamente. Do ponto de vista institucional, o uso dos novos critérios para IAM poderia resultar em um aumento de 9% (mais R$ 2.756,00 por grupo de 100 pacientes avaliados) no faturamento baseado em diagnóstico segundo a tabela do SUS. Conclusões: O novo diagnóstico de IAM acrescenta um número expressivo de indivíduos com infarto aos serviços de emergência. A incorporação deste critério é importante na medida que estes pacientes têm um prognóstico semelhante aos demais casos tradicionalmente diagnosticados. Como a identificação destes casos poderia resultar em um manejo mais qualificado e eficiente destes pacientes, esforços deveriam ser adotados para reforçar a adoção da redefinição de IAM. / Background: Studies on the clinical implications of the new criteria for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), incorporating cardiac markers of myocardial injury, are scarce in the literature. The prevalence of AMI and its complications are directly dependent on the diagnostic criteria used. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic, prognostic and economic impact of the new diagnostic criteria for AMI proposed by the AHA/ ESC, using cardiac troponin T (cTnT) as cardiac marker. Methods: A total of 740 patients consecutively admitted in the emergency department with chest pain and suspect acute coronary syndrome from July, 1999 to January, 2002 were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristic, hospital management and outcomes were prospectively recorded. Total CK, CK-MB activity and cTnT were measured in a sample of 363 patients, representative of all cohort. Patients without AMI by traditional criteria and cTnT > 0.2 mg/dl were coded as redefined AMI. Major cardiac events evaluated were: recurrent angina, congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock and death, and revascularization procedures. In-hospital management and reimbursement rates were also analyzed. Results: Among 363 patients, 59 (16%) patients had AMI by conventional criteria, whereas 40 (11%) had redefined AMI, an increase of 71% in the incidence. Patients with redefined AMI were significantly older, more male, presented with atypical chest pain and had more diabetes mellitus. In the multivariate analysis, redefined AMI was associated with 5.1 fold higher risk for in-hospital death [95%CI 1.0-28] and a 3.4 fold more cardiac events [95% CI 1.1-10] compared to those without AMI. In-hospital management was similar between patients defined by new and old criteria, except for revascularization procedures, which were less frequent in the redefined group (25% versus 51%, P<0.01). This group had longer length of hospital stay and were submitted latter to invasive procedures. From hospital perspective, based on DRGs (Diagnosis Related Group) payment system, adoption of AMI redefinition would increase 9% in the reimbursement rate or R$ 2756 per 100 patients evaluated. Conclusions: The new criteria result in a substantial increase in the diagnosis of AMI. In addition, it will allow identification of high risk patients with prognosis similar to those diagnosed by classic criteria. Efforts should be made to reinforce the adoption of AMI redefinition, which could result in a more qualified and efficient management of acute coronary syndrome patients.

Presenta la teoría y aplicación de los modelos de regresión logística y los modelos Probit a fin de conocer los factores de riesgo que influyen en la enfermedad angina de pecho. La razón principal de este estudio es identificar los factores más significativos de riesgo y prevención para dicha enfermedad dentro de la población en estudio. El trabajo presenta el desarrollo de ambos métodos y ha finalizado con la aplicación en la cual se compararon las dos metodologías, demostrando que los mejores resultados son obtenidos con el modelo Probit. La aplicación fue desarrollada con los programas SPSS versión 22 y el Minitab 17. / Trabajo de suficiencia profesional

<p>There has been much controversy in the cardiovascular literature regarding sex/gender differences in the presentation of coronary artery disease and downstream implications. The aim of this thesis is not to resolve this controversy, but rather to assess and critique potential sex/gender similarities and differences from a variety of perspectives, explored through various methodologies.</p> <p>This thesis contains four main studies, each employing different quantitative and qualitative methods. An overarching framework was developed to contextualise each study presented in this thesis. The first main study entitled, the “<em>RACE CAR”</em> trial assessed physician opinion <em>prospectively</em> observing that women are perceived to benefit less from cardiac catheterization compared to men, while controlling for age, TIMI risk and preference for cardiac catheterization. The <em>“Identifying women with severe angiographic coronary disease</em>” study observed physician referral patterns <em>retrospectively</em> and determined that although women are less likely to have severe angiographic disease compared to men, the traditional risk factors and CCS Class IV angina are significant predictors of severe angiographic disease. This is an important finding to help physicians better identify women at risk.</p> <p>The findings from these two studies identified the need for the cardiovascular research community to better define angina, particularly among women. Using qualitative methodology, a new theory of angina emerged, illustrating symptoms along a <em>gender continuum</em>. Based on the findings from the qualitative study, the final study of this thesis developed an assessment tool to test the symptom parameters along the <em>gender continuum</em>. The findings confirm that the symptoms of women and men represent more <em>shared experiences</em> rather than differences, particularly among patients with obstructive coronary artery disease.</p> <p>These studies collectively address knowledge gaps and add new information to various stages of patient cardiac care within the sex/gender programme of cardiovascular research.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>In patients with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) biochemical markers are emerging as useful tools in clinical management. In this thesis we studied the use of markers of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and renal function.</p><p>Our study populations consisted of unstable CAD patients included in the Fast Revascularisation during Instability in Coronary artery disease (FRISC)-II trial and healthy controls. Patients were followed for 2 years regarding death and myocardial infarction (MI).</p><p>Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we found that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), especially when combined with high-density lipoprotein, compared to traditionally measured lipids/lipoproteins, and a new lipoprotein marker, lipoprotein associated-phospholipase A2, was better at discriminating between healthy controls and CAD patients. In patients, OxLDL was found to be an independent prognostic marker associated with an increased risk of MI, of particular use in patients with no evidence of myocardial necrosis. </p><p>In our study on the effects of an early invasive treatment strategy in unstable CAD patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction (i.e. creatinine clearance <90mL/min) we found that in patients randomized to invasive treatment, the rates of death/MI and MI alone were significantly lower than in patients randomized to non-invasive treatment. In patients treated invasively, no detrimental effects were seen on renal function at follow-up at 6 months. </p><p>In healthy controls, we investigated new markers of renal (cystatin C) and cardio-renal function (N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, [NT-proBNP]) regarding reference levels and physiological determinants. We found that cystatin C is influenced by age whereas NT-proBNP is influenced by age and gender.</p><p>Our studies suggest that OxLDL and renal dysfunction are associated with a poor prognosis in unstable CAD patients and that these markers demonstrate potential for clinical use. In the search for new markers related to renal function we have contributed with reference levels of cystatin C and NT-proBNP. </p>

In patients with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD) biochemical markers are emerging as useful tools in clinical management. In this thesis we studied the use of markers of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and renal function. Our study populations consisted of unstable CAD patients included in the Fast Revascularisation during Instability in Coronary artery disease (FRISC)-II trial and healthy controls. Patients were followed for 2 years regarding death and myocardial infarction (MI). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we found that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), especially when combined with high-density lipoprotein, compared to traditionally measured lipids/lipoproteins, and a new lipoprotein marker, lipoprotein associated-phospholipase A2, was better at discriminating between healthy controls and CAD patients. In patients, OxLDL was found to be an independent prognostic marker associated with an increased risk of MI, of particular use in patients with no evidence of myocardial necrosis. In our study on the effects of an early invasive treatment strategy in unstable CAD patients with mild to moderate renal dysfunction (i.e. creatinine clearance &lt;90mL/min) we found that in patients randomized to invasive treatment, the rates of death/MI and MI alone were significantly lower than in patients randomized to non-invasive treatment. In patients treated invasively, no detrimental effects were seen on renal function at follow-up at 6 months. In healthy controls, we investigated new markers of renal (cystatin C) and cardio-renal function (N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, [NT-proBNP]) regarding reference levels and physiological determinants. We found that cystatin C is influenced by age whereas NT-proBNP is influenced by age and gender. Our studies suggest that OxLDL and renal dysfunction are associated with a poor prognosis in unstable CAD patients and that these markers demonstrate potential for clinical use. In the search for new markers related to renal function we have contributed with reference levels of cystatin C and NT-proBNP.

The initial treatment options for patients with stable coronary artery disease include optimal medical therapy alone, or coronary revascularization with optimal medical therapy. The most common revascularization modality is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with either bare metal stents (BMS) or drug-eluting stents (DES). PCI is believed to reduce recurrent angina and thereby decrease the need for additional procedures compared to optimal medical therapy alone. It remains unclear if these benefits are sufficient to offset the increased costs and small increase in adverse events associated with PCI. The objectives of this thesis were to determine the degree of angina relief afforded by PCI and develop a tool to provide contemporary estimates of the impact of angina on quality of life. In addition, we sought to develop a comprehensive state-transition model, calibrated to real world costs and outcomes to compare the cost-effectiveness of initial medical therapy versus PCI with either BMS or DES in patients with stable coronary artery disease. ii We performed a systematic search and meta-analysis of the published literature. Although PCI was associated with an overall benefit on angina relief (odds ratio [OR] 1.69; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.24-2.30), this benefit was largely attenuated in contemporary studies (OR 1.13; 95% CI 0.76-1.68). Our meta-regression analysis suggests that this observation was related to greater use of evidence-based medications in more recent trials. Using simple linear regression, we were able to create a mapping tool that could accurately estimate utility weights from data on the Seattle Angina Question, the most common descriptive quality of life instrument used in the cardiovascular literature. In our economic evaluation, we found that an initial strategy of PCI with a BMS was cost- effective compared to medical therapy, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $13,271 per quality adjusted life year gained. In contrast, DES had a greater cost and lower survival than BMS and was therefore a dominated strategy.