Predictive value of pericoronary fat attenuation index for graft occlusion after coronary artery bypass grafting

Based on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), this study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of pericoronary fat attenuation index (FAI) for graft occlusion in patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

The clinical and imaging data of 100 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent CCTA and subsequently received successful CABG between December 2012 and March 2024 were retrospectively collected. According to the subsequent CCTA evaluation of grafts, they were categorized into occlusion group (n = 27) and patency group (n = 73). Based on CCTA images, FAI of the proximal segment of the three coronary arteries and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) parameters were measured and compared between the two groups. The Cox regression model was employed to screen the independent predictors of graft occlusion. The predictive model was constructed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the model.

Among the 100 cases, 74 were males, with a mean age was 62.42 ± 7.57 years. During the 15.50 (5.00, 36.75) months follow-up period, grafting vessel occlusion occurred in 27 patients (27.0%). The right coronary artery (RCA) in occlusion group was −73.36 ± 7.24HU, which was notably higher compared to patency group (−79.93 ± 9.75HU) (P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that RCA FAI (HR = 5.205, 95% CI 1.938–13.979; P = 0.001) was independently correlated with graft occlusion, with an optimal cutoff value of −79.39 HU.RCA FAI added incremental prognostic value beyond clinical characteristics for patients following CABG (AUC 0.784 vs. 0.677, P = 0.027).

The RCA FAI can serve as a crucial predictor for graft occlusion in patients following CABG, enabling early identification of high-risk individuals and facilitating timely and effective intervention measures to enhance patient prognosis.