Increased Leverage of Heart Procedures Doesn’t Translate to Lower Death Rates, Study Finds
Munich, Germany – An increase in the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) across Europe does not appear to have resulted in reduced mortality rates following heart attacks, according to research presented at the EAPCI Summit 2026.
Primary PCI is a life-saving procedure used to restore blood flow quickly after a myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack. The procedure involves unblocking coronary arteries, often utilizing a stent inserted through a catheter, typically accessed from the groin or wrist.
Ali Malik from King’s College London, UK, the study presenter, noted that statistical analyses are ongoing to further evaluate the impact of primary PCI procedures throughout Europe. He stated that while primary PCI is well-established as a crucial intervention in reducing mortality after MI, significant variations exist in its provision and associated patient outcomes at local, national, and regional levels.
The investigators analyzed data from the ESC Atlas of Cardiology and the ESC Atlas in Interventional Cardiology. These resources compile statistics on cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden, risk factors, outcomes, and management practices to highlight current trends, gaps, and disparities in the quality of care.
Data from the ESC Atlas were integrated with datasets from the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and Eurostat, encompassing 21 European countries. The research assessed the association between primary PCI procedures per million inhabitants and age-standardized acute MI mortality rates, adjusting for factors like the prevalence of CVD and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
The analysis revealed that higher GDP per capita was associated with lower age-standardized MI mortality rates, demonstrating a moderate inverse correlation. Conversely, a greater prevalence of CVD was associated with higher age-standardized MI mortality rates.
After adjusting for GDP per capita and CVD prevalence, a moderate positive correlation emerged: higher rates of primary PCI were associated with increased age-standardized MI mortality.