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In a randomized trial of fractional flow reserve versus IVUS to guide PCI, the use of FFR resulted in fewer coronary interventions and was noninferior to IVUS with respect to clinical outcomes at 2 years.

Patients with typical angina were randomly assigned to a diagnostic strategy based on cardiovascular MRI or to one based on fractional flow reserve, with revascularization guided by test results. At 1 year, the cardiovascular MRI–based strategy was noninferior to the FFR-based strategy for the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target-vessel revascularization.

In a randomized trial, 5400 patients scheduled to undergo CABG were assigned either to an anesthetic regimen that included a volatile anesthetic or to total intravenous anesthesia. At 1 year, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the number of deaths from any cause.

This secondary analysis of findings from a trial that assessed the effect of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients with coronary artery disease shows that body-weight fluctuation was associated with an increased risk of death and cardiovascular events. Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death and disease. 1 , 2 Among participants in the Framingham Heart Study who were between 35 and 75 years of age and were followed for up to 44 years, overweight and obese participants were at a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular disease than participants of normal weight. 3 Weight gain is strongly associated with an increased risk of death and disease among participants without evident cardiovascular disease at baseline. 4 , 5 Indeed, in obese persons, bariatric surgery followed by weight loss reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. 6 – . . .

BackgroundThe relationship between atherosclerosis and endotypes of myocardial ischaemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is unclear. We investigated potential associations between cumulative atherosclerotic plaque burden quantified using the Gensini score, novel invasive indices of coronary microvascular function (microvascular resistance reserve (MRR); resistive reserve ratio (RRR)) and related INOCA endotypes.MethodsCoronary angiography and invasive coronary function tests were simultaneously acquired in the CorMicA cohort. A comprehensive physiological assessment was performed using both a thermodilution-based diagnostic guidewire and intracoronary acetylcholine provocation testing. Angiograms were examined for luminal stenosis in each segment of the SYNTAX coronary model. Cumulative plaque burden was quantified using the Gensini score, which incorporated both the number of diseased coronary segments and stenosis severity. Results were compared with indices of microvascular function and INOCA endotypes. Angiographic analyses were performed blind to coronary physiology findings.ResultsIn 151 participants (median age 61 years; 73.5% female) without flow-limiting coronary artery disease, medical history included 41.7% smoking, 63.6% hypertension and 19.2% diabetes mellitus. The left anterior descending artery underwent diagnostic guidewire testing in 85.4%, and 55.0% of participants had abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR) and/or Index of Microcirculatory Resistance (IMR). The median Gensini score was 6.0 (IQR 2.5–11.0). CFR (p=0.012), MRR (p=0.026) and RRR (p=0.026), but not IMR (p=0.445), were univariably associated with raised Gensini scores. These significant effects persisted in multivariable models controlling for potential confounders. Considering INOCA endotypes, Gensini scores differed among participants with microvascular angina (MVA) (7.0 (2.5–11.0)), vasospastic angina (VSA) (4.5 (2.0–10.0)), mixed MVA/VSA (9.0 (5.0–11.5)) and non-cardiac symptoms (3.5 (1.5–8.0)); Kruskal-Wallis p=0.030.ConclusionsReduced CFR, MRR and RRR, and MVA were associated with increased coronary atherosclerotic plaque burden, as evidenced by higher Gensini scores. These novel findings provide a mechanistic link between INOCA and cardiovascular events, reinforcing the importance of antiatherosclerosis therapy in patients with MVA.

In this trial, over 19,000 patients with stable coronary artery disease were assigned to ivabradine (adjusted to achieve a target heart rate) or placebo. At 27 months, there was no between-group difference in the rate of death from cardiovascular causes or nonfatal MI. An elevated heart rate is established as a marker of cardiovascular risk in the general population and among patients with cardiovascular disease. 1 – 5 Ivabradine inhibits the I f (pacemaker) current in the sinoatrial node 6 and reduces the heart rate without affecting blood pressure or left ventricular systolic function. It has been shown to lessen symptoms and reduce ischemia in patients with stable angina pectoris. 7 , 8 Ivabradine is known to improve outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure. 9 A trial of ivabradine involving patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular systolic dysfunction did not show clinical benefit, 10 but post hoc . . .

Background Dyslipidaemia and low-grade inflammation are central in atherogenesis and linked to overweight and physical inactivity. Lifestyle changes are important in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). We compared the effects of combined weight loss and interval training with interval training alone on physical fitness, body composition, dyslipidaemia and low-grade inflammation in overweight, sedentary participants with CAD. Methods Seventy CAD patients, BMI 28–40 kg/m 2 and age 45–75 years were randomised to (1) 12 weeks’ aerobic interval training (AIT) at 90% of peak heart rate three times/week followed by 40 weeks’ AIT twice weekly or (2) a low energy diet (LED) (800–1000 kcal/day) for 8–10 weeks followed by 40 weeks’ weight maintenance including AIT twice weekly and a high-protein/low-glycaemic load diet. Effects of the intervention were evaluated by physical fitness, body weight and composition. Dyslipidaemia was described using both biochemical analysis of lipid concentrations and lipoprotein particle subclass distribution determined by density profiling. Low-grade inflammation was determined by C-reactive protein, soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and tumour necrosis factor α. Effects on continuous outcomes were tested by mixed-models analysis. Results Twenty-six (74%) AIT and 29 (83%) LED + AIT participants completed the study. At baseline subject included 43 (78%) men; subjects averages were: age 63 years (6.2), body weight 95.9 kg (12.2) and VO 2 peak 20.7 mL O 2 /kg/min (4.9). Forty-six (84%) had pre-diabetes (i.e. impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance). LED + AIT reduced body weight by 7.2 kg (− 8.4; − 6.1) and waist circumference by 6.6 cm (− 7.7; − 5.5) compared to 1.7 kg (− 0.7; − 2.6) and 3.3 cm (− 5.1; − 1.5) after AIT (within-group p < 0.001, between-group p < 0.001 and p = 0.018, respectively). Treatments caused similar changes in VO 2 peak and lowering of total cholesterol, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol and low-grade inflammation. A shift toward larger HDL particles was seen following LED + AIT while AIT elicited no change. Conclusions Both interventions were feasible. Both groups obtained improvements in VO 2 peak, serum-lipids and inflammation with superior weight loss and greater central fat loss following LED + AIT. Combined LED induced weight loss and exercise can be recommended to CAD patients. Trial registration NCT01724567, November 12, 2012, retrospectively registered (enrolment ended in April 2013).

Diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) impacts the immediate hemodynamic and clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We evaluated whether the diffuse pattern of CAD derived from angiographic Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) impacts the immediate hemodynamic outcome post-PCI and the medium term predicted vessel-oriented composite endpoint (VOCE). Paired pre-procedure QFRs were assessed in 503 patients and 1022 vessels in the Multivessel TALENT (MVT) trial. The pathophysiological pattern of CAD was defined as “predominantly diffuse” or “focal” according to a virtual QFR pullback pressure gradient (PPG) index < 0.78 and ≥ 0.78, respectively. Physiological “focal severity” was assessed using the QFR gradient per mm (dQFR/ds), with a value ≥ 0.025/mm the threshold for a “major gradient”. A post-PCI QFR ≥ 0.91 was considered optimal. Median pre-PCI PPG index was 0.70 (IQR 0.59–0.80). The prevalence of “predominantly diffuse” CAD and “major gradient” were 68.6% and 85.8%, respectively. A “Predominantly diffuse” pattern with a major gradient had a higher risk of a post-PCI QFR < 0.91 (OR 1.52,95%CI 1.47–1.58). In multivariable analysis, low QFR PPG index (diffuse disease) was an independent determinant of a post-PCI QFR < 0.91 (per 0.1 decrease of QFR PPG index, OR:9.8, 95% CI 3.0–32.2, p < 0.001). Based on post-PCI QFR the predicted 2-year VOCE, a powered endpoint in the MVT trial, was 6.1% and 4.2% in diffuse and focal lesions, respectively. A pre-procedure physiological pattern of diffuse CAD is an independent determinant of an unfavourable immediate hemodynamic outcome post-PCI, and detrimentally affects the predicted 2-year VOCE. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04390672 Unique Identifier: NCT04390672 (registration date 15/05/2020)

Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is a novel angiography-based approach enabling fast computation of fractional flow reserve without use of pressure wire or adenosine. The objective of this investigator-initiated, multicenter, patient- and clinical assessor-blinded randomized trial is to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a QFR-augmented angiography-guided (QFR-guided) strategy versus an angiography-only guided (angiography-guided) strategy for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease. Approximately 3,830 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a QFR-guided or an angiography-guided strategy. Included subjects scheduled for coronary angiography have at least 1 lesion eligible for PCI with 50%-90% stenosis in an artery with ≥2.5 mm reference diameter. Subjects assigned to the QFR-guided strategy will have QFR measured in each interrogated vessel and undergo PCI when QFR ≤0.80, with deferral for lesions with QFR >0.80. Those assigned to the angiography-guided strategy will undergo PCI based on angiography. Optimal medical therapy will be administered to all treated and deferred patients. The primary end point is the 1-year rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a composite of all-cause mortality, any myocardial infarction, or any ischemia-driven revascularization. The major secondary end point is 1-year MACE excluding periprocedural myocardial infarction. Other secondary end points include the individual components of MACE and cost-effectiveness end points. The sample size affords 85% power to demonstrate superiority of QFR guidance compared with angiography guidance. The FAVOR III China study will be the first randomized trial to examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a QFR-guided versus an angiography-guided PCI strategy in coronary artery disease patients.

Current guidelines recommend complete revascularization (CR) in hemodynamically stable patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD). With regard to the timing of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for non-infarct-related artery (non-IRA), recent randomized clinical trials have revealed that immediate CR was non-inferior to staged CR. However, the optimal timing of CR remains uncertain. The OPTION-STEMI trial compared immediate CR and in-hospital staged CR guided by fractional flow reserve (FFR) for intermediate stenosis of the non-IRA. The OPTION-STEMI is a multicenter, investigator-initiated, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. The study included patients with at least 1 non-IRA lesion with ≥50% stenosis by visual estimation. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized into 2 groups at a 1:1 ratio: immediate CR (i.e., PCI for the non-IRA performed during primary angioplasty) or in-hospital staged CR. In the in-hospital staged CR group, PCI for non-IRA lesions was performed on another day during the index hospitalization. Non-IRA lesions with 50%−69% stenosis by visual estimation were evaluated by FFR, whereas those with ≥70% stenosis was revascularized without FFR. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and all unplanned revascularization at 1 year after randomization. Enrolment began in December 2019 and was completed in January 2024. The follow-up for the primary endpoint will be completed in January 2025, and primary results will be available in the middle of 2025. The OPTION-STEMI is a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized trial that evaluated the timing of in-hospital CR with the aid of FFR in patients with STEMI and MVD. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT04626882; and URL: https://cris.nih.go.kr. Unique identifier: KCT0004457.