Investigation of the predictive value of a novel algorithm based on coronary CT angiography regarding fractional flow reserve and revascularization in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been established as a gold standard for functional coronary ischemia. At present, the FFR can be calculated from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images (CT-FFR). Previous studies have suggested that CT-FFR outperforms CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in determining hemodynamic significance of stenoses. Recently, a novel automatical algorithm of CT-FFR called RuiXin-FFR has been developed. The present study is designed to investigate the predictive value of this algorithm and its value in therapeutic decision making. The present study retrospectively included 166 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA screening and diagnostic ICA examination at Peking University People's Hospital, in 73 of whom wire-derived FFR was also measured. CT-FFR analyses were performed with a dedicated software. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year. We validated the accuracy of RuiXin-FFR with invasive FFR as the standard of reference, and investigated the role of RuiXin-FFR in predicting treatment strategy and long-term prognosis. The mean age of the patients was 63.3 years with 63.9% male. The CT-FFR showed a moderate correlation with wire-derived FFR (r = 0.542, p < 0.0001) and diagnostic accuracy of 87.6% to predict myocardial ischemia (AUC: 0.839, 95% CI 0.728-0.950), which was significantly higher than CCTA and ICA. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, CT-FFR ≤ 0.80 was an independent predictor of undergoing coronary revascularization (OR: 45.54, 95% CI 12.03-172.38, p < 0.0001), whereas CT-FFR > 0.80 was an independent predictor of non-obstructive CAD (OR: 14.67, 95% CI 5.42-39.72, p < 0.0001). Reserving ICA and revascularization for vessels with positive CT-FFR could have reduced the rate of ICA by 29.6%, lowered the rate of ICA in vessels without stenosis > 50% by 11.7%, and increased the rate of revascularization in patients receiving ICA by 21.2%. The average follow-up was 23.7 months, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occurred in 11 patients. The rate of MACE was significantly lower in patients with CT-FFR > 0.80. The new algorithm of CT-FFR can be used to predict the invasive FFR. The RuiXin-FFR can also provide useful information for the screening of patients in whom further ICA is indeed needed and prognosis evaluation.