Sao Paulo, Brazil - Results from a new study have confirmed what some cardiologists have long suspected: the doctor really does know best [1]. Data from the Medicine, Angioplasty, or Surgery Study II (MASS II) suggest that physician judgment remains an important predictor of clinical outcomes.
"The fact that the clinical decision was collected before randomization in the MASS II trial allows a unique overview of the selection process and outcome in patients with stable multivessel CAD without left ventricular dysfunction. . . . Our data suggest that the best treatment option for individuals with multivessel CAD and preserved left ventricular function defined by the physician is a predictor of the incidence of cardiovascular events, mainly because of the need for additional revascularization procedures," writes lead investigator Dr Alexandre Pereira (Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil) in the August 28, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
In their paper, the authors write that no clear consensus exists about the best treatment for patients with stable multivessel CAD and preserved heart function. One-year follow-up data from MASS II showed that medical treatment for CAD was associated with a lower incidence of short-term events and a reduced need for additional revascularization. Surgery, on the other hand, was superior to medical therapy for alleviating anginal symptoms.
