Relation between myocardial blood flow and cardiac events in diabetic patients with suspected coronary artery disease and normal myocardial perfusion imaging

Abstract

Background: We assessed the prognostic value of structural abnormalities and coronary vasodilator function in diabetic patients referred to a PET/CT for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We studied 451 diabetics and 451 nondiabetics without overt CAD and normal myocardial perfusion. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was computed from the dynamic rest and stress imaging. Myocardial flow reserve (MFR) was defined as ratio of hyperemic to baseline MBF and was considered reduced when < 2. Results: During a mean follow-up of 44 months 33 events occurred. Annualized event rate (AER) was higher in diabetic than nondiabetic patients (1.4% vs 0.3%, P < 2 (P