Elderly patients presenting with myocardial infarction (MI) and multivessel disease are the highest risk population with the worst prognosis. No trial has ever been designed to optimize their outcome. The actual real-life standard of care is, in the best of the cases, culprit only revascularization. However, real-life registries show that outcome of MI elderly patients treated with this strategy is far from being optimal with at least a 15% rate of cardiac death or myocardial infarction at 1 year. To date, studies on this population have been focused on devices (bare metal stent vs biodegradable drug eluting stent) or on dual antiplatelet regimen (long vs short) and no study was focused on evaluating if complete revascularization is able to improve the prognosis in these patients. The contemporary complete revascularization is represented by a functionally-driven revascularization that recently showed to significantly reduce myocardial infarction rate and outperformed an angio-complete revascularization. Thus, our hypothesis is that a functionally-driven complete revascularization in elderly patients with MI and multivessel disease may improve prognosis compared to the actual standard of care in these patients, namely culprit only revascularization. Being a "strategy" trial, we identified the patient-oriented composite endpoint (POCE) as primary outcome of interest (all cause death, any MI, any stroke, any revascularization).
Several pre-specified substudies have been planned. A detailed list of the substudies is available in the website of the trial (http://www.thefiretrial.com)
Who can participate
Age range
75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Patients ≥75 years AND
. MI (ST-segment elevation or not ST.segment elevation MI) with indication to invasive management AND
. Multi-vessel disease defined as at least 1 non-culprit coronary artery lesion at least 2.5 mm in diameter deemed at visual estimation with a diameter stenosis % ranging from 50 to 99% amenable to successful treatment with PCI AND
. Successful treatment of culprit lesion
Exclusion criteria
. Planned surgical revascularization
. Non-cardiovascular co-morbidity reducing life expectancy to \< 1 year
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.