AIM To assess whether successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could improve the quality of life in chronic total occlusion (CTO) patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, ≤35%).
METHODS CTO patients who underwent PCI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from April 2018 to May 2022 were prospectively and consecutively enrolled and subdivided into 3 groups: LVEF ≥ 50%, 50%>LVEF>35% and LVEF ≤ 35%. Their detailed baseline data were collected, quality of life was assessed respectively using the SF-12 and EQ-5D quality of life questionnaire, and surgical details and 1 month and 1 year follow-up data were also collected.
RESULTS Totally 1412 CTO patients were successfully enrolled. LVEF ≤ 35% was present in 170 patients (12.04%), who were elder in age, had more previous MI, higher total cholesterol and LDL-C level, lower eGFR and CrCL level, and higher proportions of NYHA functional class III/IV, multivessel disease, multi-CTO lesion and calcification (P<0.05). One month and 1 year follow-up found that the quality of life of CTO patients was markedly improved (P<0.05), notably at a similar degree between patients with LVEF ≤ 35% and the other two groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION Successful PCI significantly improves the quality of life in CTO patients with low LVEF.