Long-term follow-up comparing invasive procedures versus medicine-only care for stable coronary heart disease

The International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches (ISCHEMIA) trial EXTENDed Follow-up (EXTEND)

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11062486

This follow-up tracks people with stable ischemic heart disease who were assigned either to early invasive procedures plus medicines or to medicines alone to learn which approach leads to better long-term survival and fewer heart attacks.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11062486 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project continues monitoring more than 5,000 people who were originally randomized in ISCHEMIA to an initial invasive strategy (cardiac catheterization and revascularization when appropriate plus guideline-based medicines) or to guideline-based medical therapy alone. Investigators collect vital status, heart attack events, and other cardiovascular outcomes over many years to detect late differences between the groups. The extended follow-up focuses on whether fewer spontaneous heart attacks seen with the invasive strategy translate into lower long-term cardiovascular and all-cause death. Participation for survivors mainly involves ongoing follow-up and event reporting rather than new treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who took part in the original ISCHEMIA trial—people with stable ischemic heart disease who were randomized to either the invasive or conservative strategy.

Not a fit: People with unstable coronary syndromes, very recent heart attacks, or who were not participants in the original ISCHEMIA trial are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this extended follow-up.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify whether an early invasive approach reduces long-term deaths or heart attacks and help patients and doctors choose the best long-term strategy.

How similar studies have performed: The original ISCHEMIA results showed no early reduction in the primary endpoint but did show fewer spontaneous heart attacks with invasive care over time, so extended follow-up builds on those mixed but important findings to see if long-term survival differs.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.