Comparative outcomes of drug-coated balloon angioplasty versus second-generation drug-eluting stent for in-stent restenosis: a real-world data analysis

Abstract Background Coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) poses a significant challenge in interventional cardiology, with optimal treatment strategies being the subject of ongoing debate. Current clinical guidelines offer a choice between drug-coated balloon angioplasty (DCB) and repeat stenting with second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES), each with distinct implications for long-term patient outcomes. Purpose The aim of this study is to compare 1-year outcomes between DCB angioplasty and second-generation DES in the treatment of ISR. Longitudinal real-world data are used from the OBSERVABLE database, which comprises German health claims data between 2012 and 2021. Methods A total of 10,440 ISR individuals undergoing DCB or DES intervention were identified. After exclusion of bare-metal stents, first generation stents and non-DCBs, 3,810 propensity score-matched individuals remained. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause mortality and myocardial infraction (MI). Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, MI, and bleeding as a safety outcome. Results At 1-year follow-up, the primary outcome of all-cause mortality and MI was observed in 246 individuals (12.9%) in the DES group, compared with 201 individuals (10.6%) in the DCB group (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.53). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings. Secondary outcomes revealed higher all-cause mortality in the DES group (7.9%) compared to the DCB group (6.3%) (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.03-1.66), with no difference in MI. Bleeding events were comparable between the two treatments, with 244 individuals (12.8%) in the DES group and 206 individuals (10.8%) in the DCB group (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.89-1.53). Conclusion This real-world data analysis demonstrated a higher incidence of the primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and MI within one year, after treatment with DES compared to DCB. Our results support prior findings about the safety profile of repeated DES implantation and strengthen DCB as a potential superior alternative to DES in ISR management.