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Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study - ACAS
Description:
Carotid endarterectomy for 5-year ipsilateral stroke in asymptomatic patients.
Hypothesis:
Carotid endarterectomy, added to aggressive reduction of modifiable risk factors and administration of aspirin would reduce the 5-year risk of ipsilateral cerebral infarction in individuals with asymptomatic, hemodynamically significant carotid artery stenosis.
Study Design
Study Design:
Patients Screened: 42,000
Patients Enrolled: 1,662
NYHA Class: Not given
Mean Follow Up: 2.7 years
Mean Patient Age: 67
Female: 36
Mean Ejection Fraction: Not given
Patient Populations:
> 40 and < 79 years of age
Compatible history and findings on physical and neurological examinations
Unilateral or bilateral surgically accessible stenosis of the common or internal carotid artery of at least 60% by arteriography; Doppler exam with velocity greater than instrument-specific cut point with 95% PPV; or Doppler exam with velocity greater than instrument-specific cut point with 90% PPV confirmed by ocular pneumoplethysmographic exam.
Accessibility and willingness to be followed for 5 years
Informed consent.
Exclusions:
Cerebrovascular events in the study artery distribution or in the vertebrobasilar arterial system
Symptoms referable to the contralateral cerebral hemisphere within preceding 45 days
Contraindication to aspirin therapy
Disorders that would seriously complicate surgery
Condition that would prevent continuing participation or likely to produce disability or death within 5 years.
Primary Endpoints:
In March 1993, the primary outcome measures were changed to cerebral infarction in the distribution of the study artery or any stroke or death occurring in the perioperative period.
Initially defined as TIA or infarction in the distribution of the study artery and any TIA, stroke, or death in the perioperative period.
Secondary Endpoints:
Any stroke and perioperative death
Any stroke and any death
Any ipsilateral TIA or stroke
Any perioperative TIA, stroke, or death.
Drug/Procedures Used:
Carotid endarterectomy.
Concomitant Medications:
Aspirin, 325 mg qd (all patients).
Principal Findings:
Lower Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year risk of ipsilateral stroke and any perioperative stroke or death for the surgical group (5.1%) vs medical therapy (11.0%). The reduction in 5-year ipsilateral stroke risk in the surgical group was 53% of the estimated 5-year risk in the medical group (95% CI, 22% to 72%), p = 0.004.
For the primary endpoint of ipsilateral stroke and any perioperative stroke or death, the survival curves cross near 10 months and become significantly reduced in the surgical group by 3 years (p < 0.05).
The original primary endpoint (ipsilateral TIA or stroke or any perioperative TIA, stroke or death) showed a 57% reduction in 5-year risk for the surgery group (95% CI, 39% to 70%).
The surgical group had a 20% reduction in any stroke or death compared to medical therapy, which was not statistically significant (95% CI -2% to 37%).
Subgroup analysis by gender showed no statistically significant difference between genders, although the 5-year event rate reduction was greater for men (66%, 95% CI, 36% to 82%) than for women (17%, 95% CI, -96% to 65%).
Silent infarction among the ACAS patients is not uncommon, but rarely sizable, and of unknown clinical significance.
In cost-effectiveness analyses, surgical treatment improved quality-adjusted life expectancy from 7.82 to 8.12 QUALYs, at an incremental lifetime cost of $2041. This yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $8,000 per QUALY saved by surgical compared to medical treatment. Carotid endarterectomy was cost-effective for the ACAS population; however, it did not appear to be cost-effective for very elderly patients, in settings of high operative stroke risk, or in patients with very low stroke risk without surgery.
Interpretation:
The NASCET and ECST trials have shown benefit for symptomatic patients from carotid endarterectomy. ACAS demonstrated that the incidence of cerebral infarction can be reduced by endarterectomy, and forms the foundation for current clinical guidelines for asymptomatic patients. Four other randomized prospective studies of carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis have been reported. One did not include stenosis exceeding 90% [CASSANOVA, Stroke 1991; 22:1229-1235], another was terminated early because of excess cardiac events [Mayo Clin Proc 1992; 67:513-8]. The European Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial is ongoing [ Eur J Vasc Surg 1994; 8:703-10]. The Veterans Affairs Cooperative trial of 444 men published results based on a mean follow-up of 47.9 months [N Engl J Med 1993; 328:221-7]. Following publication of ACAS, endarterectomy rates have dramatically increased in Florida [Stroke 1998; 29:1099-105] and in the Veterans Administration hospital system [Archives of Surgery 1997; 132:1134-9.]
References:
1. Stroke 1989; 20: 844-849 Study design and organization
2. Stroke 1994; 25: 1122-1129 Baseline silent cerebral infarction
3. JAMA 1995; 273:1421-8 Primary results
4. J Vasc Surg 1996; 23:323-8 Surgeon selection process
5. Stroke 1996; 27:1951-7 Doppler ultrasound as screening tool
4. Stroke 1997; 28:1648 Perioperative surgical morbidity and mortality
5. Neurology 1997; 48:346-51 Validation of ACAS TIA/stroke algorithm
6. J Vasc Surg 1997; 25:298-309 Cost-effectiveness analysis
Keywords: Stroke, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors, Endarterectomy, Carotid, Life Expectancy, Constriction, Pathologic, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Carotid Artery, Internal, Neurologic Examination, Cerebral Infarction, Florida, Carotid Stenosis, Informed Consent
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