Quantitative flow ratio and instantaneous wave-free ratio for the assessment of the functional severity of intermediate coronary artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is a novel physiological index of the severity of coronary stenosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between QFR and the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed contrast-flow QFR, iFR, and fractional flow reserve (FFR) in 100 coronary arteries with intermediate stenosis.

RESULTS: There was a high correlation (r=0.71, P<0.001) and a good agreement (mean difference: -0.09±0.11) between QFR and iFR. Both QFR and iFR were correlated significantly with FFR (r=0.89, P<0.001 and r=0.76, P<0.001, respectively). The mean absolute difference between FFR and QFR was significantly smaller than that between FFR and iFR (-0.01±0.07 vs. -0.08±0.09, P<0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of QFR less than or equal to 0.80 for predicting FFR less than or equal to 0.80 was numerically higher than that of iFR less than or equal to 0.89 for predicting FFR less than or equal to 0.80 [QFR: 94% (95% confidence interval: 85-97%) vs. iFR: 74% (95% confidence interval: 65-81%)].

CONCLUSION: QFR was correlated highly with iFR as well as FFR. Like FFR and iFR, QFR might be reliable for assessing the physiological severity of coronary stenosis in the angiographic intermediate lesions.