What the trial was testing
The ISCHEMIA-CKD enrolled 777 patients with coronary artery disease. The study was sponsored by NYU Langone Health and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was long-term safety (phase 4). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Heart surgery showed no benefit over medication alone in patients with advanced kidney disease and blocked arteries.
The New England journal of medicine · 2020 · NCT01985360
These findings — that surgery and medication-only groups had virtually identical rates of death or heart attack — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 777 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with coronary artery disease, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
If you have advanced kidney disease and stable heart disease, medication alone may be as effective as surgery or stents. The trial found surgery increased stroke risk without reducing heart attacks or death. Talk to your cardiologist and kidney doctor about the best treatment plan for your situation.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open coronary artery disease trials
Gangwon PCI Prospective Registry
Comparison of * Biolimus-eluting stent, Biomatrix, or Biomatrix Flex stent, Biosensors, Singapore * Everolimus-eluting stent, Xience V, or Xience Prime, or Xience Xpedition stent, Abbott, USA * Zotarolimus-eluting stent, Endeavor Resolute, or Endeavor Resolute Integrity stent Medtronic, USA in patients with coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention
Essen Coronary Artery Disease Registry
The ECAD registry is a registry of patients undergoing coronary angiography at the West German Heart and Vascular Center. The registry anticipates to determine predictors of patient outcome after coronary angiography.