Is the Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease Following the Recommendations Set Out in the Proposed Guidelines and in the SYNTAX Study?

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main cause of death among cardiovascular diseases. Current guidelines aim to guide clinical practice in choosing the best treatment, based on the best scientific evidence. The SYnergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXus and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score uses anatomical and clinical factors, helping to assess the complexity of coronary lesions.

Objective: To verify whether the treatment used in CAD complied with the recommendations set out in the guidelines and in the SYNTAX study.

Methods: Single-center, cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and retrospective study, which analyzed medical records over a three-year period. Patients diagnosed with CAD who had obstructive disease in at least two vessels were selected. The exams were evaluated by a specialist who was unaware of the report and the treatment used for each patient. SYNTAX 1 and 2 scores were calculated, and the recommended treatment was compared to the established treatment.

Results: Two hundred and ten patients were distributed, according to SYNTAX Score 1, into the groups low (Group A), intermediate (Group B), and high risk (Group C). Of 155 patients in Groups B and C, 105 (67.7%) were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), vs. 24 (15.5%) with CABG. When calculating the SYNTAX Score 2 of the 101 patients with recommended treatment for CABG, 71 (70.3%) received PCI, compared to 18 (17.8%) treated with CABG. All patients recommended for preferential treatment for PCI had the recommendation respected.

Conclusion: The treatment offered was not supported by current guidelines and recommendations. Expanding the sample size may determine the current situation of the treatment of CAD in Brazil.