Long-term prognostic impact of complete revascularisation defined by CT-derived fractional flow reserve.
Journal:
Heart (British Cardiac Society)
Published Date:
Jul 24, 2026
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Complete revascularisation has been associated with improved short-term outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease, but whether these benefits persist long-term and can be defined non-invasively remains uncertain. We investigated the long-term prognostic impact of complete versus incomplete revascularisation determined by coronary CT angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT). METHODS: In this prospective multicentre study, 900 patients with new-onset stable angina and at least one coronary stenosis of 30% or greater on coronary CT angiography were followed for a median of 7 years. FFRCT values were obtained for each vessel, and patients were categorised as completely revascularised (all vessels with FFRCT ≤0.80 revascularised), incompletely revascularised (one or more vessels with FFRCT ≤0.80 not revascularised), or with normal physiology (all vessels with FFRCT >0.80). Early revascularisation was defined as treatment within 90 days of the index scan. Quantitative coronary plaque burden was assessed using artificial intelligence-enabled plaque analysis. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death or spontaneous myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Of 900 patients, 210 (23%) were classified as incompletely revascularised, 167 (19%) as completely revascularised and 523 (58%) as having normal physiology. The primary endpoint occurred in 34 of 210 (16.2%) incompletely revascularised patients, 13 of 167 (7.8%) completely revascularised patients and 30 of 523 (5.7%) with normal physiology. Incomplete revascularisation was associated with higher risk compared with complete revascularisation (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.23 to 4.42; p=0.01) and normal physiology (HR 3.54, 95% CI 2.16 to 5.81; p<0.001). These associations remained significant after adjustment for total plaque burden, and the risk difference persisted beyond 3 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Complete revascularisation defined by CT-derived fractional flow reserve was associated with a sustained reduction in cardiovascular death and spontaneous myocardial infarction over 7 years, supporting its potential role as a non-invasive tool to guide revascularisation strategies in stable coronary artery disease.
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