To describe trends in the use of percutaneous coronary intervention () following the trial, which found that medical therapy is as effective as for patients with stable angina.
We used the National Hospital Discharge Survey; inpatient and outpatient discharge data from lorida, aryland, and ew ersey; and the English Hospital Episode Statistics database.
We report trends in volume by diagnosis (stable angina vs. unstable angina or ) before and after publication of the trial.
The number of s in patients without a diagnosis of or unstable angina in lorida, aryland, and ew ersey declined from 48,000 in 2006 to 40,000 in 2008 (−17 percent). There was no change in the number of s in patients with a diagnosis of . We observed similar patterns in community hospitals. volume did not decline in ngland.
volume declined after publication of the trial. The experience of the trial suggests that comparative effectiveness research can lead to cost‐saving changes in medical practice patterns. However, there are many patients with stable coronary disease who continue to receive post‐.
