Safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents in women: a patient-level pooled analysis of randomised trials

Background The safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) in the treatment of coronary artery disease have been assessed in several randomised trials. However, none of these trials were powered to assess the safety and efficacy of DES in women because only a small proportion of recruited participants were women. We therefore investigated the safety and efficacy of DES in female patients during long-term follow-up. Methods We pooled patient-level data for female participants from 26 randomised trials of DES and analysed outcomes according to stent type (bare-metal stents, early-generation DES, and newer-generation DES). The primary safety endpoint was a composite of death or myocardial infarction. The secondary safety endpoint was definite or probable stent thrombosis. The primary efficacy endpoint was target-lesion revascularisation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Findings Of 43 904 patients recruited in 26 trials of DES, 11 557 (26.3%) were women (mean age 67.1 years [SD 10.6]). 1108 (9.6%) women received bare-metal stents, 4171 (36.1%) early-generation DES, and 6278 (54.3%) newer-generation DES. At 3 years, estimated cumulative incidence of the composite of death or myocardial infarction occurred in 132 (12.8%) women in the bare-metal stent group, 421 (10.9%) in the early-generation DES group, and 496 (9.2%) in the newer-generation DES group (p=0.001). Interpretation The use of DES in women is more effective and safe than is use of bare-metal stents during long-term follow-up. Newer-generation DES are associated with an improved safety profile compared with early-generation DES, and should therefore be thought of as the standard of care for percutaneous coronary revascularisation in women.