Prognostic value of combined coronary CT angiography and myocardial perfusion imaging in women and men

Aims Combined anatomical and functional imaging enables detection of non-obstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as myocardial ischaemia. We evaluated sex differences in disease profile and outcomes after combined computed tomography angiography (CTA) and positron emission tomography (PET) perfusion imaging in patients with suspected obstructive CAD. Methods and results We retrospectively evaluated 1948 patients (59% women) referred for coronary CTA due to suspected CAD during the years 2008-2016. Patients with a suspected obstructive lesion on coronary CTA (n = 657) underwent O-15-water PET to assess stress myocardial blood flow (MBF). During a mean follow-up of 6.8 years, 182 adverse events (all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina) occurred. Women had more often normal coronary arteries (42% vs. 22%, P < 0.001) and less often abnormal stress MBF (9% vs. 28%, P < 0.001) than men. The annual adverse event rate was lower in women vs. men (1.2% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.02). Both in women and men, coronary calcification, non-obstructive CAD, and abnormal stress MBF were independent predictors of events. Abnormal stress MBF was associated with 5.0- and 5.6-fold adverse event rates in women and men, respectively. There was no interaction between sex and coronary calcification, non-obstructive CAD, or abnormal stress MBF in terms of predicting adverse events. Conclusion Among patients evaluated for chronic chest pain, women have a lower prevalence of ischaemic CAD and a lower rate of adverse events. Combined coronary CTA and PET myocardial perfusion imaging predict outcomes equally in women and men.

Automated summary

The study evaluated sex differences in disease profile and outcomes after combined computed tomography angiography (CTA) and positron emission tomography (PET) perfusion imaging in female patients with suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The results showed that women had a higher proportion of normal coronary arteries and a lower proportion of abnormal stress myocardial blood flow. The annual adverse event rate was also lower in women. Both in women and men, coronary calcification, non-obstructive CAD, and abnormal stress myocardial blood flow were independent predictors of adverse events. The study concluded that combined coronary CTA and PET myocardial perfusion imaging can equally predict outcomes in women and men.