PCI Growth in Malaysia: Innovations Transforming Cardiovascular Care

The number of PCI procedures with stents has risen dramatically in Malaysia in recent years and is set to see further significant growth, driven by rising CVD prevalence, demographic shifts, and technological advancements. Since the introduction of DES, there has not been a successful major technological advance in stent technology for over two decades. However, results from the INFINITY-SWEDEHEART Trial, published in The Lancet in November 2024 indicate that a novel technology is set to challenge the dominance of DES in the PCI market.

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'Innovation in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (formerly Intervention (PCI) (formerly called angioplasty) procedures helps to better manage coronary artery disease (CAD) not just in older patients, but in younger patients living longer, more active lives.

The number of PCI procedures with stents has risen dramatically in Malaysia in recent years and is set to see further significant growth, driven by rising cardiovascular disease prevalence, demographic shifts, and technological advancements. The market is projected to expand from $18 million in 2022 to $27 million by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.95 per cent.

Worryingly, this growth is not just being driven by the ageing population but also by cardiovascular disease presenting in younger patients. Data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey reveals a concerning upward trajectory in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in recent years, particularly among younger people, with over 35.2 per cent of heart attack fatalities aged below 60 years of age according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

The data also shows the average age of Malaysian patients undergoing PCI is 57, significantly younger than the global average of 65 and 14 years younger than Japan's average age of 71. As the average age of stent recipients lowers, it is highlighting an inherent problem with the current standard of care, the drug eluting stent (DES).

Drug-eluting Stents

The introduction of the DES in 2003 and 2004 was one of the most significant and successful developments in the history of stent technology.