ACR Appropriateness Criteria Chronic Chest Pain—Low to Intermediate Probability of Coronary Artery Disease

Comparing two methods for determining appropriateness of myocardial perfusion imaging: Criteria from the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American College of Radiology

BACKGROUND

Appropriate use criteria (AUC) developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the appropriateness criteria (AC) developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) are two existing methods of rating appropriateness of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). One study found poor agreement of ratings between the two methods. However, using the most contemporary AUC from 2013, it is unknown if poor agreement still exists.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort investigation comparing patients undergoing nuclear MPI between June 2011 and September 2014. The appropriateness category was determined based on the 2013 AUC (Appropriate, may be appropriate, rarely appropriate) and the 2010 ACR AC (usually appropriate, maybe appropriate, usually not appropriate). The primary outcome was the degree of the agreement between the two methods.

RESULTS

The kappa coefficient between ACR AC and AUC was 0.32, P < 0.0001, indicating poor agreement; 40 (8%) patients were classified by the AUC but could not be classified by the ACR AC.

CONCLUSION

The two methods for rating the appropriateness of MPI have poor agreement; a potential for disagreement between providers and payers if only one method is used.

The role of imaging in women with ischemic heart disease

Substantial advances and insights in medical technology and treatment strategies, and the focus on sex-specific research have contributed to a reduction in cardiovascular mortality in women. Despite these advances, ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of women in the Western world. Advances in cardiovascular imaging, over the past 4 decades, have significantly improved the evaluation and management of the full spectrum of coronary atherosclerosis, which contributes to ischemic heart disease. The development of contemporary and novel diagnostic imaging techniques and tools have assumed an expanded role in the evaluation of symptomatic women to detect not only flow-limiting epicardial coronary stenosis and nonobstructive atherosclerosis, but also ischemia resulting from microvascular dysfunction. IHD is now diagnosed early and with greater accuracy, leading to improved risk assessment and timely therapies in women. In this article, we review the available evidence on the role of contemporary diagnostic imaging techniques in the evaluation of women with suspected IHD.

Myocardial perfusion imaging in women for the evaluation of stable ischemic heart disease-state-of-the-evidence and clinical recommendations

This document from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology represents an updated consensus statement on the evidence base of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), emphasizing new developments in single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in the clinical evaluation of women presenting with symptoms of stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD). The clinical evaluation of symptomatic women is challenging due to their varying clinical presentation, clinical risk factor burden, high degree of comorbidity, and increased risk of major ischemic heart disease events. Evidence is substantial that both SPECT and PET MPI effectively risk stratify women with SIHD. The addition of coronary flow reserve (CFR) with PET improves risk detection, including for women with nonobstructive coronary artery disease and coronary microvascular dysfunction. With the advent of PET with computed tomography (CT), multiparametric imaging approaches may enable integration of MPI and CFR with CT visualization of anatomical atherosclerotic plaque to uniquely identify at-risk women. Radiation dose-reduction strategies, including the use of ultra-low-dose protocols involving stress-only imaging, solid-state detector SPECT, and PET, should be uniformly applied whenever possible to all women undergoing MPI. Appropriate candidate selection for stress MPI and for post-MPI indications for guideline-directed medical therapy and/or invasive coronary angiography are discussed in this statement. The critical need for randomized and comparative trial data in female patients is also emphasized.

Comparing two methods for determining appropriateness of myocardial perfusion imaging: Criteria from the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American College of Radiology

BACKGROUND

Appropriate use criteria (AUC) developed by the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the appropriateness criteria (AC) developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR) are two existing methods of rating appropriateness of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). One study found poor agreement of ratings between the two methods. However, using the most contemporary AUC from 2013, it is unknown if poor agreement still exists.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort investigation comparing patients undergoing nuclear MPI between June 2011 and September 2014. The appropriateness category was determined based on the 2013 AUC (Appropriate, may be appropriate, rarely appropriate) and the 2010 ACR AC (usually appropriate, maybe appropriate, usually not appropriate). The primary outcome was the degree of the agreement between the two methods.

RESULTS

The kappa coefficient between ACR AC and AUC was 0.32, P < 0.0001, indicating poor agreement; 40 (8%) patients were classified by the AUC but could not be classified by the ACR AC.

CONCLUSION

The two methods for rating the appropriateness of MPI have poor agreement; a potential for disagreement between providers and payers if only one method is used.

Ethnic difference in the prevalence of angina pectoris in Sami and non-Sami populations: the SAMINOR study

Objective

To assess the population burden of angina pectoris symptoms (APS), self-reported angina and a combination of these, and explore potential ethnic disparity in their patterns. If differences in APS were found between Sami and non-Sami populations, we aimed at evaluating the role of established cardiovascular risk factors as mediating factors.

Design

Cross-sectional population-based study.

Methods

A health survey was conducted in 2003–2004 in areas with Sami and non-Sami populations (SAMINOR). The response rate was 60.9%. The total number for the subsequent analysis was 15,206 men and women aged 36–79 years (born 1925–1968). Information concerning lifestyle was collected by 2 self-administrated questionnaires, and clinical examinations provided data on waist circumference, blood pressure and lipid levels.

Results

This study revealed an excess of APS, self-reported angina and a combination of these in Sami relative to non-Sami women and men. After controlling for age, the odds ratio (OR) for APS was 1.42 (p<0.001) in Sami women and 1.62 (p<0.001) for men. When including relevant biomarkers and conventional risk factors, little change was observed. When also controlling for moderate alcohol consumption and leisure-time physical activity, the OR in women was reduced to 1.24 (p=0.06). Little change was observed in men.

Conclusion

This study revealed an excess of APS, self-reported angina and a combination of these in Sami women and men relative to non-Sami women and men. Established risk factors explained little or none of the ethnic variation in APS. In women, however, less moderate alcohol consumption and leisure-time physical activity in Sami may explain the entire ethnic difference.