Differential clinical outcomes in ACS: the amplified risk of diabetes in patients treated with drug-coated balloon angioplasty.

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence supports drug-coated balloons (DCBs) as a compelling alternative to stent-based interventions in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly in diabetic populations where lesion complexity and metabolic dysfunction often undermine long-term outcomes. This study explores real-world safety and efficacy of DCB-only angioplasty in ACS patients, with focused analysis of diabetic subgroups.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted at King Abdullah Medical City between 2019 and 2023. The study enrolled patients presenting with ACS who underwent DCB treatment during this period.

RESULTS

Of 212 patients, 55% had diabetes mellitus. Diabetic individuals exhibited significantly higher comorbid burden-hypertension, dyslipidemia, and prior coronary interventions. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) predominated among diabetics, and in-stent restenosis (ISR) was more frequently observed than de novo lesions. At one-month follow-up, diabetic patients experienced marginally fewer major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) than non-diabetics; however, parity was observed at one year. Within the diabetic group, insulin therapy and suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c > 8.0%) were strongly associated with increased 12-month cardiovascular risk, particularly due to repeat revascularization. Importantly, neither clinical presentation nor angiographic features predicted these risks. Instead, elevated HbA1c and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) independently forecasted adverse outcomes post-DCB.

CONCLUSION

In the context of ACS, diabetic patients remain uniquely vulnerable. Metabolic control and cardiac function-not anatomy alone-emerge as decisive prognostic factors after DCB therapy. Despite inherent challenges, DCB offers a targeted and promising revascularization approach when patient-specific risk modifiers are proactively addressed.