Why the study?
The study evaluated the potential use of CCTA as the sole available non-invasive diagnostic technique for suspected CAD during the COVID-19 pandemic when access to hospital facilities was limited.
Does coronary CT angiography (CCTA) safely guide the deferral of invasive coronary angiography and optimize medical therapy in patients with suspected stable CAD during a pandemic?
Observational (n=58)
No
Does coronary CT angiography (CCTA) safely guide the deferral of invasive coronary angiography and optimize medical therapy in patients with suspected stable CAD during a pandemic?
CCTA safely and effectively triaged patients with suspected stable CAD during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing deferral of invasive angiography in over 80% of patients without adverse events.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential use of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) as the sole available non-invasive diagnostic technique for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causing limited access to the hospital facilities. Methods and Results: A consecutive cohort of patients with suspected stable CAD and clinical indication to non-invasive test was enrolled in a hub hospital in Milan, Italy, from March 9 to April 30, 2020. Outcome measures were obtained as follows: cardiac death, ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina. All the changes in medical therapy following the result of CCTA were annotated. A total of 58 patients with a mean age of 64 ± 11 years (36 men and 22 women) were enrolled. CCTA showed no CAD in 14 patients (24.1%), non-obstructive CAD in 30 (51.7%) patients, and obstructive CAD in 14 (24.1%) patients. Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was considered deferrable in 48 (82.8%) patients. No clinical events were recorded after a mean follow-up of 376.4 ± 32.1 days. Changes in the medical therapy were significantly more prevalent in patients with vs. those without CAD at CCTA. Conclusion: The results of the study confirm the capability of CCTA to safely defer ICA in the majority of symptomatic patients and to correctly identify those with critical coronary stenoses necessitating coronary revascularization. This characteristic could be really helpful especially when the hospital resources are limited
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Conte et al. (2021) conducted an observational in Suspected stable coronary artery disease (n=58). Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) was evaluated on Cardiac death, STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: