Influence of Anatomical and Clinical Characteristics on Long-Term Prognosis of FFR-Guided Deferred Coronary Lesions

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and anatomical features to predict the long-term outcomes in patients with fractional flow reserve (FFR)–guided deferred lesions, verified by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Background: Deferral of nonsignificant lesion by FFR is associated with a low risk of clinical events. However, the impact of combined information on clinical and anatomical factors is not well known.

Methods: The study included 459 patients with 552 intermediate lesions who had deferred revascularization on the basis of a nonischemic FFR (>0.80). Grayscale IVUS was examined simultaneously. The primary endpoint was patient-oriented composite outcome (POCO) (a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and any revascularization) during 5-year follow-up.

Results: The rate of 5-year POCO was 9.8%. Diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio: 3.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86 to 6.57; p < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% (hazard ratio: 4.80; 95% CI: 1.57 to 14.63; p = 0.006), and positive remodeling (hazard ratio: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.03 to 4.03; p = 0.041) were independent predictors for POCO. When the lesions were classified according to the presence of the adverse clinical characteristics (diabetes, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%) or adverse plaque characteristics (positive remodeling, plaque burden ≥70%), the risk of POCO was incrementally increased (4.3%, 13.6%, and 21.3%, respectively; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: In patients with FFR-guided deferred lesions, 5-year clinical outcomes were excellent. Lesion-related anatomical factors from intravascular imaging as well as patient-related clinical factors could provide incremental information about future clinical risks.