title: Functional SYNTAX score for risk assessment in multivessel coronary artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed at investigating whether a fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided SYNTAX score (SS), termed "functional SYNTAX score" (FSS), would predict clinical outcome better than the classic SS in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The SS is a purely anatomic score based on the coronary angiogram and predicts outcome after PCI in patients with multivessel CAD. FFR-guided PCI improves outcomes by adding functional information to the anatomic information obtained from the angiogram.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SS was prospectively collected in 497 patients enrolled in the FAME (Fractional Flow Reserve versus Angiography for Multivessel Evaluation) study. FSS was determined by only counting ischemia-producing lesions (FFR ≤ 0.80). The ability of each score to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 497 patients were divided into tertiles of risk based on the SS. After determining the FSS for each patient, 32% moved to a lower-risk group as follows. MACE occurred in 9.0%, 11.3%, and 26.7% of patients in the low-, medium-, and high-FSS groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Only FSS and procedure time were independent predictors of 1-year MACE. FSS demonstrated a better predictive accuracy for MACE compared with SS (Harrell's C of FSS, 0.677 vs. SS, 0.630, p = 0.02; integrated discrimination improvement of 1.94%, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recalculating SS by only incorporating ischemia-producing lesions as determined by FFR decreases the number of higher-risk patients and better discriminates risk for adverse events in patients with multivessel CAD undergoing PCI.
authors: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors: Chang-Wook
authors: CW
authors: Nam
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Mangiacapra
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Entjes
authors: In-Sung
authors: IS
authors: Chung
authors: Jan-Willem
authors: JW
authors: Sels
authors: Pim A L
authors: PA
authors: Tonino
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: De Bruyne
authors: Nico H J
authors: NH
authors: Pijls
authors: William F
authors: WF
authors: Fearon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents