Large Study Finds DCBs Not as Effective as Newer-Generation DES
Despite small randomized trials suggesting comparable results in patients with small-vessel (≤2.5 mm) coronary artery disease (CAD), an analysis of 14,788 patients suggests that drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are associated with a significantly higher risk of restenosis (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.027) up to 3 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DES).