Implication of coronary CT angiography combined with four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for predicting major adverse cardiac events

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can provide abundant information about the anatomy of the coronary artery. However, this modality is limited in evaluation of myocardial function. Four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (4DSTE) is a novel and sensitive technique for quantitative evaluation of myocardial deformation. We estimated the value of these imaging modalities to predict the risk of MACE in 209 patients with suspected coronary artery disease(CAD) after a median follow-up of 727 days. Three models were established: (1) CCTA alone, (2) CCTA combined with 4DSTE, and (3) CCTA combined with 4DSTE and clinical risk factors. Forty-six (22.0%) patients developed MACE. The hazard ratio (HR) of CCTA classification to predict the risk of MACE was greater (HR = 4.86) than for other parameters, including B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (HR = 2.44) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 0.40). The area under the curve of models 2 and 3 to predict MACE was significantly greater than that of model 1 (0.92 and 0.93 vs. 0.84, respectively, p < 0.001). We conclude that there is direct relationship between CCTA classification and MACE risk. CCTA combined with 4DSTE can improve the ability of CCTA to predict the risk of MACE. This approach provides cardiologists a noninvasive, objective, and efficient method to predict MACE.