QFR tops coronary angiography in calculating FFR, detecting stenosis
Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) outperformed coronary angiography in calculating fractional flow reserve (FFR), a measurement key to determining heart blockages, according to a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
QFR measures FFR based on a 3D reconstruction of the stenotic vessel rendered from two intra-procedure angiographic projections. Authors analyzed 317 vessels from 2,727 patients with stable angina, using FFR as a reference standard. QFR achieved an 86.5 percent sensitivity and 86.9 percent specificity for detecting stenosis. Alternatively, angiography recorded a 44.2 percent and 76.5 percent in each respective measurement.
“We showed that QFR is superior to standard quantitative coronary angiography in evaluating coronary artery stenosis,” wrote lead author Jelmer Westra, with Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, and colleagues. “QFR may extend the access to physiology‐based guidance when access to pressure wires is limited by financial restrictions or inexpedient reimbursement systems.
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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.