title: Outcomes associated with fractional flow-guided revascularization: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deferral of revascularization for abnormal but nonischemic lesions is usually recommended; however, the long-term outcome of this approach is not well known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Deferral of nonischemic lesions will be associated with a low frequency of adverse events.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed search of the MEDLINE database identified studies that reported clinical outcomes among patients who had fractional flow reserve-guided revascularization. We further categorized studies into 2 subgroups: left main and non-left main coronary artery lesions. Baseline demographics and clinical outcome data were extracted by 3 independent reviewers. Fixed and random effects summary risk ratios were constructed using Mantel-Haenszel and DerSimonian-Laird models, respectively. The primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 741 potential studies, 17 were included in the meta-analysis (n = 2975 participants), 8 in the left main subgroup (n = 595) and 9 studies (n = 2380) in non-left main subgroup. In the left main subgroup, the incidence of the composite outcome was 15.3% in the no-ischemia/deferral group vs 14.3% in the ischemia/revascularization group (risk ratio [RR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76-1.68, P = 0.54, I(2) = 3.7%). In the non-left main subgroup, the incidence of the composite outcome was 9.2% in the no-ischemia/deferral group vs 18.8% in the ischemia/revascularization group (RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.34-0.52, P < 0.0001, I(2) = 20.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with left main coronary disease had a relatively high incidence of adverse cardiovascular events, which was similar in both the deferral and revascularization groups. In patients with non-left main disease, ischemia was associated with worse outcomes despite revascularization.
authors.affiliation: North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, Florida; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bavry
authors.forename: Islam Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Elgendy
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome