Predictive value of the average three-vessel microvascular resistance in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention

Ruijin Hong; Beilei Li; Hui Chen; Jiaxin Zhong; Yuxiang Chen; Yuanming Yan; Lianglong Chen; Qin Chen; Yukun Luo

doi:10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104838

Predictive value of the average three-vessel microvascular resistance in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention

Microvasc Res. 2025 Jun 26:104838. doi: 10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104838. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ruijin Hong¹, Beilei Li¹, Hui Chen¹, Jiaxin Zhong¹, Yuxiang Chen¹, Yuanming Yan¹, Lianglong Chen¹, Qin Chen², Yukun Luo³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Institute of Coronary Heart Disease, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Heart Medical Center, Fuzhou, PR China.
² Department of Cardiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Institute of Coronary Heart Disease, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Heart Medical Center, Fuzhou, PR China. Electronic address: ndcq@163.com.
³ Department of Cardiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Institute of Coronary Heart Disease, Fuzhou, PR China; Fujian Heart Medical Center, Fuzhou, PR China; Department of Emergency, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, PR China. Electronic address: luoyukun@hotmail.com.

PMID: 40581281
DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2025.104838

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated the predictive value of the average microvascular resistance of the three main vessels (3VA-AMR) for the prognosis of patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: This study was conducted on patients with NSTEMI who underwent PCI between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022, at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital. Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) analysis was conducted on all patients' PCI angiography images to assess postoperative QFR and angio-based microvascular resistance (AMR) for three main vessels. All enrolled patients were devided into two groups based on the criteria for coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD): high 3VA-AMR group and low 3VA-AMR group. The primary outcome was 2-year major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemia-driven revascularization.

Results: A total of 290 patients were included in the final analysis. Compared with the low 3VA-AMR group, the three vessels of high 3VA-AMR group showed lower area stenosis (49.46 ± 13.70 % vs. 52.93 ± 15.43 %，P = 0.001), higher QFR value (0.92 ± 0.05 vs. 0.88 ± 0.09, P < 0.001), and higher AMR value (274.50 [257.33-301.42] mmHg*s/m vs. 208.00 [182.00-231.83] mmHg*s/m, P < 0.001). The incidence of 2-year MACEs was significantly higher in the high 3VA-AMR group than in the low 3VA-AMR group (21.90 % vs. 10.27 %, P = 0.007). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed that 3VA-AMR was independently associated with 2-year MACEs (HR:1.007, 95 % CI:1.004-1.010, P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier method further confirmed the difference in 2-year MACE risk between two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed a significant correlation between 3VA-AMR and MACE (area under the curve: 0.701, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: 3VA-AMR was an independent risk factor for 2-year MACEs in NSTEMI patients. Compared with target-vessel AMR, 3VA-AMR demonstrated superior predictive value for 2-year MACEs following PCI.

Keywords: Angle-based microvascular resistance; Major adverse cardiac events; Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Quantitative flow ratio.