The Relationship Between Patient Characteristics and Access Site Complications Post PCI: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Vascular access complications are among the most common adverse events following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), often requiring additional recovery and management. Evidence on associated risk factors remains inconsistent, and data from the Middle East are limited. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, adhering to STROBE guidelines. Convenience sampling included 211 adult patients undergoing elective PCI. Access-site complications (ecchymosis, oozing, bleeding, hematoma) were assessed immediately, at 6 hours, and at 24 hours post-sheath removal. Patient characteristics (age, sex, BMI, comorbidities) and procedural factors (puncture site) were recorded. Descriptive statistics summarized incidence; associations were tested using Chi-square (α=0.05). Results Of 211 patients (74% male; 68% radial access), complications were significantly associated with age (p=0.021) and female sex (57.4% vs 25.5%, p