Background Patients with diabetes exhibit an increased propensity to develop a diffuse and extensive pattern of coronary artery disease with a high incidence of complex multi-vessel disease.

Objectives We compared the 3-year outcomes of diabetic patients with multivessel disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention in (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Methods Eight hundred and forty two consecutive diabetic patients were included in this study. Five hundred and eighty eight patients treated with PCI and 254 underwent CABG.

Results There was no significant difference in mortality between two groups. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events was significantly higher in patients treated with PCI (38.2% vs 19.8%; p<0.05). The rate of repeat revascularisation was significantly lower in patients treated with CABG compared with PCI (24.2% vs 8.7%, p<0.05).

Conclusions At 3-year follow-up, CABG has comparable safety and superior efficacy compared with PCI in the treatment of diabetic patients with multivessel disease.