The Impact of Coronary Bifurcation Stenting Strategy on Health-Related Functional Status : A Quality-of-Life Analysis From the BBC One (British Bifurcation Coronary; Old, New, and Evolving Strategies) Study

ObjectivesThis study sought to assess the impact of coronary bifurcation stenting on health-related functional status, using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), for participants in the BBC ONE (British Bifurcation Coronary; Old, New, and Evolving Strategies) trial and to compare simple versus complex bifurcation stenting strategies in this regard.BackgroundLarge randomized studies have examined outcomes from bifurcation stenting with drug-eluting stents. They have reported on major adverse cardiovascular events and angiographic follow-up. However, a principal goal of percutaneous coronary intervention is symptom control and improvement in quality of life, yet there are no published data from these trials on this aspect. Furthermore, it is unknown whether simple versus complex stenting strategies have different effects on angina control and quality of life.MethodsThe BBC ONE study randomized 500 subjects to bifurcation stenting using either a simple (provisional T) or complex (crush or culotte) approach. Subjects completed the SAQ at baseline and at 9 months after percutaneous coronary intervention. Canadian Cardiovascular Society class and antianginal drug use were also evaluated.ResultsBifurcation stenting was associated with significant improvements on SAQ scales and in Canadian Cardiovascular Society class (baseline: 5.3% subjects were class 0; follow-up: 64.0% were class 0; p < 0.001) and a significant reduction in the number of antianginal drugs used (median decrease: 1; p < 0.001). Simple and complex strategies did not differ significantly for changes in the SAQ, actual SAQ scores, or use of antianginal drugs.ConclusionsRegardless of chosen strategy, bifurcation stenting produced significant functional improvements in angina-related health. No significant difference between simple and complex strategies was found in this regard.