BACKGROUND: This study compared safety and efficacy of first- and second-generation DES in an unrestricted, real-life population of diabetic patients undergoing PCI.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was a subanalysis of diabetic patients from the all-comer Katowice-Zabrze Registry of patients undergoing PCI with the implantation of either first- (Paclitaxel-, Sirolimus-eluting stents) or second-generation DES (Zotarolimus-, Everolimus-, Biolimus-eluting stents). Efficacy defined as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE: death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, stroke) and safety defined as stent thrombosis (ST) were evaluated at 1 year.

RESULTS: From the total of 1916 patients, 717 were diabetics. Among them, 257 (36%) were treated with first-generation DES (230 [89%] Paclitaxel-eluting stents, 27 [11%] Sirolimus-eluting stents), 460 with second-generation DES (171 [37%] Zotarolimus-eluting stents, 243 [53%] Everolimus-eluting stents, 46 [10%] Biolimus-eluting stents). Rate of MACCE was equal in both groups (p=0.54). Second-generation DES had a better safety profile than first-generation DES (log-rank for cumulative ST at 1 year p<0.001). First-generation DES was a risk factor for ST (HR 5.75 [1.16–28.47], p=0.03) but not for MACCE (HR 0.89 [0.6–1.32], p=0.57).

CONCLUSIONS: In a real-life setting of diabetic patients undergoing PCI, second-generation DES had lower risk of ST and similar MACCE rate compared to first-generation DES.

Keywords: Coronary Stenosis - drug therapy, Angiography, Diabetes Mellitus, drug-eluting stents, Everolimus - administration & dosage, Follow-Up Studies, Myocardial Infarction - chemically induced, Myocardial Revascularization, Paclitaxel - administration & dosage, percutaneous coronary intervention, Poland, Proportional Hazards Models, Registries, Sirolimus - analogs & derivatives, Stents, Thrombosis