Impact of a CTO in a non-infarct-related artery on long-term mortality in patients undergoing primary PCI

Abstract Background Previous studies showed increased mortality rates in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a non-infarct-related artery, but long-term data are scarce. Purpose Our aim was to assess all-cause mortality during 5 years follow-up in patients with a remaining nonculprit CTO after being treated with primary PCI. Methods The study included 9504 patients admitted for primary PCI during 2009–2019, with available baseline angiography, from an electronic, prospective registry of a high-volume catheterization laboratory. Kaplan Meier cumulative mortality curves for non-culprit CTO vs. no CTO were compared with the log-rank test, with landmarks set at 30 days and then annually up to 5 years follow-up. Adjusted Cox regression models were constructed to assess 30-day and 5-year mortality risk of a non-culprit CTO. Median follow-up was 1507 days. Results Nonculprit CTO was present in 13.2% of patients (n=1253). Presence of a nonculprit CTO was associated with older age (64 vs. 61, p