Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the 2-year clinical outcomes of overlapping second-generation everolimus-eluting stents (EES) with those of overlapping resolute zotarolimus-eluting stents (R-ZES) in the treatment of long coronary artery lesions.
Materials and methods: This retrospective analysis included 256 patients treated with overlapping EES (n=121) and R-ZES (n=135) for long coronary artery lesions (total stent length per lesion ≥34 mm). Study endpoints included major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target-vessel revascularization (TVR), as well as target-lesion revascularization and definite stent thrombosis separately at 2 years.
Results: In the two groups, the mean age was older and the average number of disease vessel was higher in the R-ZES group. The mean lesion length and total stent length per lesion were longer in the R-ZES group. EES were more frequently implanted in the left anterior descending coronary artery. No significant differences in the estimated MACE (5.8% for EES vs. 8.1% for R-ZES; P=0.548) or TVR (3.4% for EES vs. 4.0% for R-ZES; P=0.806) rates were noted between the two groups at 2-year follow-up. The incidence of definite stent thrombosis was low and similar in both groups (0.83% for EES vs. 0% for R-ZES; P=0.473). No significant differences were noted with respect to MACE or TVR between the two groups following propensity score matching.
Conclusion: Stent overlap with second-generation EES or R-ZES was associated with low rates of MACE, TVR, and stent thrombosis at 2-year follow-up. Our results suggest that the use of overlapping EES or R-ZES in long coronary lesions is associated with good long-term clinical outcomes. These results need to be validated with randomized controlled trials.