This study sought to investigate the relationship between FFR values and vessel-related clinical outcome.
<h4 id="absSec_3">Methodsh4>We prospectively studied major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 2 years in 607 patients in whom all stenoses were assessed by FFR and who were treated with medical therapy alone. The relationship between FFR and 2-year MACE was assessed as a continuous function. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate the average decrease in the risk of MACE per 0.05-U increase in FFR.
<h4 id="absSec_4">Resultsh4>MACE occurred in 272 (26.5%) of 1,029 lesions. Target lesions with diameter stenosis ≥70% were more often present in the MACE group (p < 0.01). Median FFR was significantly lower in the MACE group versus the non-MACE group (0.68 [interquartile range: 0.54 to 0.77] vs. 0.80 [interquartile range: 0.70 to 0.88]; p < 0.01). The cumulative incidence of MACE significantly increased with increasing FFR quartiles. An average decrease in MACE per 0.05-unit increase in FFR was statistically significant even after adjustment for all clinical and angiographic features (odds ratio: 0.81; 95% confidence interval: 0.76 to 0.86]). The strongest increase in MACE occurred for FFR values between 0.80 and 0.60. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, FFR was significantly associated with MACE up to 2 years (hazard ratio: 0.87; 95% confidence interval: 0.83 to 0.91]).
<h4 id="absSec_5">Conclusionsh4>In patients with stable coronary disease, stenosis severity as assessed by FFR is a major and independent predictor of lesion-related outcome. (FAME II - Fractional Flow Reserve [FFR] Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention [PCI] Plus Optimal Medical Treatment [OMT] Verses OMT; https" data-locatorKey="//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01132495">NCT01132495)