Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance and Costs of FFRB Vs. Standard Care in Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Chest pain due to coronary artery disease (CAD) is a main driver of healthcare costs. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement during invasive coronary angiography (ICA) is the gold standard to discriminate ischemia. A rapid simplified method had been developed to determine non-invasive FFR (FFRB) by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on anatomic models derived from computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA), which compares favorably with invasive FFR and significantly improves diagnostic accuracy than CTCA alone in a previous preliminary study.

In this study, the aim is to compare the diagnostic accuracy, clinical effectiveness, safety outcomes, and quality of life of using FFRB on top of CTCA for CAD diagnosis and treatment planning, versus standard of care in Singapore; and measure health care resource utilization and assess cost-effectiveness of adopting FFRB on top of CTCA to support decision making in managing patients with suspected CAD.

The study protocol for CTCA scan is as follows.

1. CTCA will be performed with Single- or dual-source CT scanners (Toshiba AquilionOne, Cannon Aquilion One, Philips 256-dector, GE Revolution, Siemens Somatom Force Dual Source 384-detector, Siemens Somatom Drive Dual Source 256-detector) scanners.
2. CTCA scan will follow local CTCA scanning protocols that meet the quality standards defined by the Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography.
3. The CTCA image analysis will be performed according to accepted guidelines for reporting.

A total of 400 patients with chest pain will be recruited and randomly assigned into two groups. Both groups of patients will receive CTCA. But only one group of patients will be given the FFRB results. Based on the available medical information, the patients may be referred for additional non-invasive tests or ICA. For the recruited patients, who are referred for ICA subsequently, at least one FFR measurement will be conducted. All recruited patients will receive follow up at the time of 90days, 180 days and 365 days post-CTCA, as well as at the end-of-study, to record the quality of life, medical expenses and MACE events. The recruited patients will also receive follow up (phone or office visit) at the time of 90days (+30/-15 days), 180 days (+/-30 days) and 365 days (+/- 30 days) after enrolment, as well as at the end-of-study when the last recruited patient has completed one-year follow-up. Patient's response to the two questionnaires (SAQ 7 and EQ-5D-5L), their use of medication and the following clinical events will be recorded during the baseline visit and follow ups.

1. noninvasive or invasive coronary diagnostic tests;
2. planned clinic or hospital visits for evaluation or treatment of CAD;
3. unplanned hospitalization due to persisting or increasing complaints of chest pain with or without ST-T changes leading to urgent revascularization performed within the same hospitalization;
4. vascular events related to invasive diagnostic or therapeutic coronary procedures occurring within 14 days of invasive procedure;
5. nonfatal myocardial infarction;
6. Cardiovascular death defined as any death due to immediate cardiac or vascular cause or non- cardiovascular death, defined as any death not covered by the above definition. Un-witnessed death and death of unknown cause will be classified as cardiovascular death.

Through this study, investigation can be done on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of adding FFRB in the management of patients with suspected CAD. This new non-invasive method, FFRB, may help reduce the need for ICA in patients with suspected CAD and enhance the cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome of CAD diagnosis and treatment.

Once enrolled into the study, patient's medical records and medical bill/cost will also be reviewed for data collection.

For the recruited patients, who are referred for ICA subsequently (within 6 month post-CTCA) and don't have coronary revascularization or myocardial infarction event between the CTCA and ICA tests, at least one FFR measurement during ICA will be conducted.

The study protocol for ICA and FFR measurement is as follows:

1. ICA will be performed by certified interventional cardiologists following the guidelines set forth by the American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions.
2. FFR will be performed in vessels having diameter stenosis between 30-90%, and deemed clinically indicated for evaluation.
3. Following administration of intracoronary nitroglycerin, invasive FFR will be performed using either the pressure monitoring guidewire (St Jude Medical Aeris®, Philips Volcano VerrataTM pressure wire or Boston® guidewire), or fibreoptic pressure catheter (Medtronic ACIST®) advanced distal to the stenosis.

II. Hyperemia is induced by administration of one of the following:

1. Intravenous adenosine at a rate of at least 140 mcg/kg/min; or
2. Intracoronary adenosine of at least 200 mcg into left coronary artery, and at least 100 mcg into right coronary artery;or
3. Intracoronary Papaverine of at least 20mg for the left coronary artery, and at least 15mg for the right coronary artery.