Sponsored by National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches) is a multinational, randomized trial to determine if percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with optimal medical treatment improves ischemia outcomes. The results are expected to be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2019.

Previous trials have provided some "hard" outcomes (i.e., cardiovascular mortality) supporting (and refuting) revascularization in stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). In this trial, controversy has arisen regarding the primary endpoint definition. Initially expected to be a "hard" endpoint (cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction), the study committee has expanded (a pre-specified potential change) the primary endpoint to include "soft," less-specific endpoints (hospitalization for heart failure, unstable angina, and cardiac arrest).

Keywords: Coronary Angiography, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, American Heart Association, Myocardial Ischemia, Myocardial Infarction, Angina, Unstable, Heart Failure, Hospitalization, Heart Arrest, National Institutes of Health (U.S.)

< Back to Listings