Clinical Outcome of Revascularization Deferral With Instantaneous Wave‐Free Ratio and Fractional Flow Reserve: A 5‐Year Follow‐Up Substudy From the iFR‐SWEDEHEART Trial

Although physiology‐based assessment of coronary artery stenosis using instantaneous wave‐free ratio (iFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) are established methods of guiding coronary revascularization, its clinical outcome in long‐term deferral needs further evaluation, especially with acute coronary syndrome as a clinical presentation. The aim was to evaluate the long‐term clinical outcome of deferral of revascularization based on iFR or FFR. METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a substudy of the iFR‐SWEDEHEART (Instantaneous Wave‐Free Ratio Versus Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With Stable Angina Pectoris or Acute Coronary Syndrome) randomized clinical trial, where patients deferred from revascularization from each study arm were selected. Nine hundred eight patients deferred from coronary revascularization with iFR (n=473) and FFR (n=435) were followed for 5 years. The national quality registry, SWEDEHEART (Swedish Web‐System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies), was used for patient data collection and clinical follow‐up. The end point was major adverse cardiac events and their individual components all‐cause death, cardiovascular death, noncardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization. No significant difference was found in major adverse cardiac events (iFR 18.6% versus FFR 16.8%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.79–1.48]; P=0.63) or their individual components. CONCLUSIONS: No differences in clinical outcomes after 5‐year follow‐up were noted when comparing iFR versus FFR as methods for deferral of coronary revascularization in patients presenting with stable angina pectoris and acute coronary syndrome. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02166736.