A Pooled Analysis of Data Comparing Sirolimus-Eluting Stents with Bare-Metal Stents

Although randomized studies have shown a beneficial effect of drug-eluting stents in reducing the risk of repeated revascularization, these trials were underpowered to compare rates of death and myocardial infarction. The long-term safety of drug-eluting stents has been questioned recently.

We performed a pooled analysis of 1748 patients in four randomized trials evaluating the safety of sirolimus-eluting stents as compared with bare-metal stents. Patient-level data were obtained and analyzed by independent statisticians at two academic institutions. The primary safety end point was survival at 4 years. We tested for heterogeneities in treatment effect in patient subgroups.