Resting distal to aortic pressure ratio and fractional flow reserve discordance affects the diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio: Results from an individual patient data meta-analysis

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) related to fractional flow reserve (FFR) and resting distal-to-aortic pressure ratio (resting Pd/Pa) concordance. Background QFR is a method for computation of FFR based on standard coronary angiography. It is unclear how QFR is performed in patients with discordance between FFR and resting pressure ratios (distal-to-aortic pressure ratio [Pd/Pa]). Materials and Methods The main comparison was the diagnostic performance of QFR with FFR as reference stratified by correspondence between FFR and resting Pd/Pa. Secondary outcome measures included distribution of clinical or procedural characteristics stratified by FFR and resting Pd/Pa correspondence. Results Four prospective studies matched the inclusion criteria. Analysis was performed on patient level data reaching a total of 759 patients and 887 vessels with paired FFR, QFR, and resting Pd/Pa. Median FFR was 0.85 (IQR: 0.77-0.90). Diagnostic accuracy of QFR with FFR as reference was higher if FFR corresponded to resting Pd/Pa: accuracy 90% (95% CI: 88-92) versus 72% (95% CI: 64-80), p < .001, and sAUC 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92-0.96) versus 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.77), p < .001. Resting Pd/Pa and FFR discordance were related to age, sex, hypertension, and lesion severity. Conclusion Diagnostic performance of QFR with FFR as reference is reduced for lesions with discordant FFR (<= 0.80) and resting Pd/Pa (<= 0.92) measurements.

Automated summary

The study evaluated the diagnostic performance of quantitative flow ratio (QFR) compared to fractional flow reserve (FFR) and resting distal-to-aortic pressure ratio (resting Pd/Pa). QFR showed higher diagnostic accuracy when corresponding to FFR and resting Pd/Pa. Discordance between resting Pd/Pa and FFR was related to age, sex, hypertension, and lesion severity.