Determinants and Prognoses of Visual-Functional Mismatches After Mechanical Reperfusion in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: Discordance between the anatomy and physiology of the coronary has important implications for managing patients with stable coronary disease, but its significance in ST-elevation myocardial infarction has not been fully elucidated. Methods: The retrospective study involved patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), along with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and quantitative flow ratio (QFR) assessments. Patients were stratified into four groups regarding the severity of the culprit vessel, both visually and functionally: concordantly negative (QCA-diameter stenosis [DS] <= 50% and QFR > 0.80), mismatch (QCA-DS > 50% and QFR > 0.80), reverse mismatch (QCA-DS <= 50% and QFR <= 0.80), and concordantly positive (QCA-DS > 50% and QFR <= 0.80). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the clinical factors linked to visual-functional mismatches. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to estimate the 18-month adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)-free survival between the four groups. Results: The study involved 310 patients, with 68 presenting visual-functional mismatch, and 51 exhibiting reverse mismatch. The mismatch was associated with higher angiography-derived microcirculatory resistance (AMR) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.016, 95% CI: 1.010-1.022, P<0.001). Reverse mismatch was associated with larger area stenosis (aOR=1.044, 95% CI: 1.004-1.086, P=0.032), lower coronary flow velocity (aOR=0.690, 95% CI: 0.567-0.970, P<0.001) and lower AMR (aOR=0.947, 95% CI: 0.924-0.970, P<0.001). Additionally, the mismatch group showed the worst 18-month MACE-free survival among the four groups (Log rank test p = 0.013). Conclusion: AMR plays a significant role in the occurrence of visual-functional mismatches between QCA-DS and QFR, and the mismatch group showed the worst prognosis.