Drug-coated stents designed to open blocked coronary arteries cause no more risks for death or heart attack than do bare-metal stents, according to a late-breaking outcomes trial presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2007. These stents are coated with a drug aimed at reducing the build-up of material that forms around the metal tube. HCP’s Mass-DAC, directed by HCP professor of health care policy (biostatistics) Sharon-Lise Normand, PhD, participated in a study comparing patient outcomes from both types of stents. Although previous studies had shown that the drug-coated stents decrease the likelihood that a patient will need repeat procedures within the first year after the stent procedure, this study was the first to present evidence of the long-term safety of these stents.

The study was covered in the Boston Globe and U.S. News & World Report, among other news outlets.