Automated quantitative analysis of CZT SPECT stratifies cardiovascular risk in the obese population: Analysis of the REFINE SPECT registry

Background Obese patients constitute a substantial proportion of patients referred for SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), presenting a challenge of increased soft tissue attenuation. We investigated whether automated quantitative perfusion analysis can stratify risk among different obesity categories and whether two-view acquisition adds to prognostic assessment. Methods Participants were categorized according to body mass index (BMI). SPECT MPI was assessed visually and quantified automatically; combined total perfusion deficit (TPD) was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to assess major adverse cardiac event (MACE) risk. Prognostic accuracy for MACE was also compared. Results Patients were classified according to BMI: BMI < 30, 30 <= BMI < 35, BMI >= 35. In adjusted analysis, each category of increasing stress TPD was associated with increased MACE risk, except for 1% <= TPD < 5% and 5% <= TPD < 10% in patients with BMI >= 35. Compared to visual analysis, single-position stress TPD had higher prognostic accuracy in patients with BMI < 30 (AUC .652 vs .631,P < .001) and 30 <= BMI < 35 (AUC .660 vs .636,P = .027). Combined TPD had better discrimination than visual analysis in patients with BMI >= 35 (AUC .662 vs .615,P = .003). Conclusions Automated quantitative methods for SPECT MPI interpretation provide robust risk stratification in the obese population. Combined stress TPD provides additional prognostic accuracy in patients with more significant obesity.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the risk stratification and prognostic evaluation among obese population using automated quantitative perfusion analysis in SPECT MPI. The results demonstrate robust risk stratification capability of automated methods in this population and the additional prognostic accuracy provided by combined TPD.