Current trends in use of Intravascular imaging of coronary vessels in the US.

Background
Intravascular imaging is considered as valuable technique to optimize selected percutaneous interventions. This study was performed to recognize demographic features and analyze the current trends in use of Intravascular imaging of coronary vessels in the US between 2010-2014 utilizing the NIS database.

Methods
Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data was used to extract data of patients undergoing intravascular imaging of coronary vessels during index admission for years 2010-2014. Patients were identified by ICD-9 procedure code 00.24. Demographic features and trends in the use of intravascular imaging of coronary vessels over the five year period were analyzed.

Results
A total of 211,488 indexed procedures of intravascular imaging of coronary vessels were performed in between 2010 and 2014. Of all patients 65.3% were males and 34.7% were females.There was an upward trend from 2010 to 2011, but since 2011 the number of procedure started declining. The intravascular imaging was performed most often in patients aged 65-84 year-old (46.4%). The main insurance was Medicaid (52.3%).Vast majority of procedures were performed in urban hospitals (95.61%), predominantly in teaching institutions (56.9%). Geographically, the procedure was performed most commonly in southern part of the US (33.3%).

Conclusions
Our most recent data from 2011 to 2014 was showing downward trend in the use of intravascular imaging of coronary vessels in the US. Strog evidence for improved outcome of imaging-guided intervention could affect this trend and expand the use of intracoronary imaging in the US.