Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty versus medical treatment for non-acute coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract Objective: To determine whether percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (angioplasty) is superior to medical treatment in non-acute coronary artery disease. Design: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Setting: Randomised controlled trials conducted worldwide and published between 1979 and 1998. Participants: 953 patients treated with angioplasty and 951 with medical treatment from six randomised controlled trials, three of which included patients with multivessel disease and pre-existing myocardial infarction. Main outcome measures: Angina, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, death, repeated angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass grafting. Results: In patients treated with angioplasty compared with medical treatment the risk ratios were 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.50 to 0.98; heterogeneity P