Long-Term Prognostic Value of Stress Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance–Related Coronary Revascularization to Predict Death: A Large Registry With >200 000 Patient-Years of Follow-Up

Background: Although the benefit of coronary revascularization in patients with stable coronary disease is debated, data assessing the potential interest of stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to guide coronary revascularization are limited. We aimed to assess the long-term prognostic value of stress CMR-related coronary revascularization in consecutive patients from a large registry. Methods: Between 2008 and 2018, a retrospective cohort study with a median follow-up of 6.0 years (interquartile range, 5.0–8.0) included all consecutive patients referred for stress CMR. CMR-related coronary revascularization was defined by any coronary revascularization performed within 90 days after CMR. The primary outcome was all-cause death based on the National Death Registry. Results: Among the 31 762 consecutive patients (mean age 63.7±12.1 years and 65.7% males), 2679 (8.4%) died at 206 453 patient-years of follow-up. Inducible ischemia and late gadolinium enhancement by CMR were associated with death (both P <0.001). In multivariable Cox regression, inducible ischemia and late gadolinium enhancement were independent predictors of death (hazard ratio, 1.61 [99.5% CI, 1.41–1.84]; hazard ratio, 1.62 [99.5% CI, 1.41–1.86], respectively; P <0.001). In the overall population, CMR-related coronary revascularization was an independent predictor of greater survival (hazard ratio, 0.58 [99.5% CI, 0.46–0.74]; P <0.001). In 1680, 1:1 matched patients using a limited number of variables (840 revascularized, 840 nonrevascularized), CMR-related revascularization was associated with a lower incidence of death in patients with severe inducible ischemia (≥6 segments, P <0.001) but showed no benefit in patients with mild or moderate ischemia (<6 segments, P =0.109). Using multivariable analysis in the propensity-matched population, CMR-related revascularization remained an independent predictor of a lower incidence of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.66 [99.5% CI, 0.54–0.80], P <0.001). Conclusions: In this large observational series of consecutive patients, stress perfusion CMR had important incremental long-term prognostic value to predict death over traditional risk factors. CMR-related revascularization was associated with a lower incidence of death in patients with severe ischemia.

Evidence and Applicability of Stress Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Detecting Coronary Artery Disease: State of the Art

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance is increasingly used in clinical practice, as it has emerged over the years as an invaluable imaging technique for diagnosis and prognosis, with clear-cut applications in managing patients with both ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease. In this review, we focus on the evidence and clinical application of stress CMR in coronary artery disease from diagnosis to prognosis.

Sex differences in mortality in stable patients undergoing vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance

ObjectiveWe assessed the influence of the ischaemic burden (IB) as derived from vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) on the risk of death and the effect of revascularisation across sex.MethodsWe evaluated 6237 consecutive patients with known or suspected chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Extensive ischaemia was defined as >5 segments with perfusion deficit. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used.ResultsA total of 2371 (38.0%) patients were women and 583 (9.3%) underwent CMR-related revascularisation. During a median follow-up of 5.13 years, 687 (11.0%) deaths were reported. We found an adjusted differential effect of CMR-derived IB across sex (p value for interaction=0.039). Women exhibited an adjusted lower risk of death and only equaled men’s risk when extensive ischaemia was present. Likewise, CMR-related revascularisation was shown to be differentially associated with the risk of mortality across sex (p value for interaction=0.025). In patients with non-extensive ischaemia, revascularisation was associated with a higher risk of death, with a greater extent in women. At higher IB, revascularisation was associated with a lower risk in men, with more uncertain results in women.ConclusionsCMR-derived IB allows predicting the risk of death and gives insight into the potential effect of revascularisation in men and women with CCS. Compared with men, women with non-extensive ischaemia displayed a lower risk and a similar risk with a higher IB. The impact of CMR-related revascularisation on mortality risk was also significantly different according to IB and sex. Further research will be needed to confirm these hypothesis-generating findings.