Improved Survival Rates in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients Following Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography

Strategic Insights -

Recent research findings from Aarhus, Denmark, have shed light on the efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in improving survival rates among patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). A study conducted at Aarhus University Hospital investigated the efficiency and mortality rates in CCS patients before and after the introduction of CCTA. The study analyzed data from a total of 142,815 procedures, including invasive coronary angiography (ICA), CCTA, and revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary arterial bypass grafting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The use of CCTA led to a significant decrease in the percentage of revascularized patients, from 45.7% to 13.3%, over the 20-year study period.
  • The revascularization/ICA ratio decreased from 46.3% to 40.1% during the same period.
  • In all CCTA-first patients, 2.7% of women and 6.9% of men had a revascularization procedure within 6 months.
  • One- and five-year mortality in revascularized patients decreased by 56% and 4%, respectively.
  • One- and five-year mortality in non-revascularized patients diagnosed with ICA first decreased by 49% and 26%, respectively.
  • Both revascularized and non-revascularized patients had better survival rates than the background population.
  • The extensive use of CCTA did not reduce the number of ICA procedures without subsequent revascularization.

Statistics:

  • 142,815 procedures were analyzed, including ICA (68,640), CCTA (74,175), and revascularization (32,311).
  • 45.7% of patients were revascularized in 2000, decreasing to 13.3% in 2020.
  • The revascularization/ICA ratio decreased from 46.3% to 40.1% over the 20-year study period.
  • 2.7% of women and 6.9% of men in CCTA-first patients underwent revascularization within 6 months.

Sources:

  • Computed tomography angiography in chronic coronary syndrome: Association to catheterization laboratory activity and survival. American Heart Journal Plus, 2025;57:100582
  • NewsRx. Research Results from Aarhus University Hospital Update Understanding of Heart Disease (Computed tomography angiography in chronic coronary syndrome: Association to catheterization laboratory activity and survival). Health & Medicine Week. August 29, 2025; p 157