Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and Revascularization Predict Long-term All-cause Mortality in Patients with Suspected CAD.

Rationale And Objectives: The prognostic implications of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) are imperative to provide proper management of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to quantify the long-term prognostic value of MPI under routine clinical conditions.

Materials And Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study evaluated all-cause mortality and cause-specific survival according to MPI findings in patients with suspected or known CAD who underwent diagnostic evaluation or assessment of myocardial ischemia and viability in a tertiary referral cardiovascular center. A total of 2278 patients (mean age: 64.22±10.37 years; (39.2%) 893 women) were included. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess outcomes and control for confounding, stratified by MPI findings. The association between coronary revascularization and survival was also assessed.

Results: During 8.17±2.17 years follow-up, 22.7% died and 16.8% received coronary revascularization (89.3±33.8 days after the index MPI). MPI severity was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (log-rank p<0.001). In multivariable Cox regression adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, prior myocardial infarction, body mass index, and left ventricular ejection fraction, both resting and post-stress MPI were independently associated with increased mortality risk (rest MPI: HR 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.41, p<0.001; stress MPI: HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15-1.45, p<0.001). Coronary revascularization was significantly associated with reduced risk of mortality (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.32-0.57, p<0.001, in rest MPI model). The prognostic value of MPI persisted over short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up.

Conclusion: Both resting and post-stress myocardial perfusion had good long-term prognostic value for all-cause mortality. Coronary revascularization was independently associated with a reduced risk of mortality.