Coronary disease & ACS

Ischaemic and bleeding events after complex versus non-complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): a systematic review and meta-analysis

EuroInterventionPublished systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors' conclusion

Patients undergoing complex PCI have an increased risk of both ischaemic and bleeding events compared with patients undergoing non-complex PCI (PROSPERO: CRD420250656254).

Study context

Population
Patients undergoing PCI (complex versus non-complex)patients, of whom 94,633 (33%) underwent complex PCI
Participants
290,039 patients
Comparison
Complex versus non-complex PCI
  • Complex PCIn = 94,633
Outcome
Myocardial infarction and major bleeding
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model within a Bayesian framework, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework for prognostic studies
  • Random-effects model within a Bayesian framework
  • GRADE framework for prognostic studies

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

complex PCI vs non-complex PCIAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CrI)
Myocardial infarction; credible interval (CrI)
1.71(1.49–1.96)
Major bleeding; credible interval (CrI)
1.24(1.14–1.35)

Further pooled results

OutcomeAdjusted HR (95% CrI)
Secondary outcomesComplex PCIvs non-complex PCIAll-cause death; CrI1.21 (1.12–1.32)
Secondary outcomesComplex PCIvs non-complex PCICardiovascular death; CrI1.29 (1.15–1.46)
Secondary outcomesComplex PCIvs non-complex PCIStent thrombosis; CrI1.76 (1.49–2.14)
Secondary outcomesComplex PCIvs non-complex PCITarget lesion or vessel revascularisation; CrI1.99 (1.58–2.50)
Secondary outcomesComplex PCIvs non-complex PCIStroke; CrI1.21 (1.03–1.42)

Posterior probability and certainty of evidence

Posterior probability of a higher risk associated with complex versus non-complex PCI, all study outcomes
>99%
Certainty of evidence moderate to high for all outcomes except stroke (low certainty)
Secondary analysis, including unadjusted risk estimates, provided consistent results

Original publication

Ischaemic and bleeding events after complex versus non-complex PCI: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EuroIntervention. Published 6 April 2026. doi:10.4244/eij-d-25-01204

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