The comparative efficacy of bivalirudin is markedly attenuated by use of radial access: insights from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-21-2016

Publication Title

European heart journal

Abstract

AIM: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the relative impact of bivalirudin on bleeding outcomes associated with trans-radial interventions (TRI) in real world practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Data for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between January 2010 and March 2014 at the 47 hospitals participating in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium (BMC2) were utilized. Propensity matching was used within cohorts defined by access site. The impact of bivalirudin use on in-hospital outcomes was evaluated with Fisher's exact tests. Among patients undergoing trans-femoral interventions (TFI), use of bivalirudin was associated with a reduction in bleeding compared with both glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI; 1.67 vs. 3.46%, absolute risk reduction (ARR) 1.79%, odds ratio, OR, 0.47, confidence interval, CI, 0.41-0.54, number needed to treat, NNT 56, P < 0.001) and heparin (1.26 vs. 1.76%, ARR 0.5%, OR 0.71, CI 0.61-0.82, NNT 197, P < 0.001). Among patients undergoing TRI, there was a more modest absolute reduction in bleeding with bivalirudin compared with GPI (0.79 vs. 1.41%, ARR 0.62%, OR 0.56, CI 0.34-0.90, NNT 161, P = 0.016) and no difference in bleeding compared with heparin (0.46 vs. 0.46%, OR 1, CI 0.54-1.84, P = 1).

CONCLUSION: Bivalirudin is markedly efficacious in reducing bleeding in patients undergoing TFI. The reduction in bleeding associated with bivalirudin use is minimal to absent in patients undergoing TRI. Given its lower cost and comparable outcomes, heparin should be the preferred anticoagulation strategy in those undergoing radial PCI.

Medical Subject Headings

Anticoagulants; Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans; Heparin; Hirudins; Humans; Michigan; Peptide Fragments; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Recombinant Proteins; Treatment Outcome

PubMed ID

26377400

Volume

37

Issue

24

First Page

1902

Last Page

1909

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