Coronary flow velocity reserve predicts survival in non-diabetic patients

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFR) are important predictors of cardiovascular events. The present study was designed to examine whether cardiovascular outcome can be predicted by Doppler echocardiography-derived CFR even in non-diabetic patients with negative coronary angiograms. Methods. The present study was comprised of 91 non-diabetic patients with normal epicardial coronary arteries. They all had undergone standard transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, coronary angiography and dipyridamole stress transesophageal echocardiography (CFR measurement). Results. During this follow-up period of 90 ± 36 months, 26 patients died or were hospitalized due to cardiovascular reasons. Using ROC analysis, CFR <2.2 had the highest accuracy in predicting event-free survival (sensitivity 62%, specificity 73%, area under the curve 66%, p =0.024). Multivariable regression analysis showed that only lower CFR (hazard ratio (HR) 2.22, p <0.05) was independent predictor of outcome. Conclusions. CFR is an independent predictor of event-free survival in non-diabetic subjects with negative coronary angiograms. © Versita Sp. z o.o.