1.Cost-effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Intravascular Ultrasound to Guide Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the FLAVOUR Study
Doyeon HWANG ; Hea-Lim KIM ; Jane KO ; HyunJin CHOI ; Hanna JEONG ; Sun-ae JANG ; Xinyang HU ; Jeehoon KANG ; Jinlong ZHANG ; Jun JIANG ; Joo-Yong HAHN ; Chang-Wook NAM ; Joon-Hyung DOH ; Bong-Ki LEE ; Weon KIM ; Jinyu HUANG ; Fan JIANG ; Hao ZHOU ; Peng CHEN ; Lijiang TANG ; Wenbing JIANG ; Xiaomin CHEN ; Wenming HE ; Sung Gyun AHN ; Ung KIM ; You-Jeong KI ; Eun-Seok SHIN ; Hyo-Soo KIM ; Seung-Jea TAHK ; JianAn WANG ; Tae-Jin LEE ; Bon-Kwon KOO ;
Korean Circulation Journal 2025;55(1):34-46
Background and Objectives:
The Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular UltrasoundGuided Intervention Strategy for Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intermediate Stenosis (FLAVOUR) trial demonstrated non-inferiority of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. We sought to investigate the cost-effectiveness of FFR-guided PCI compared to IVUS-guided PCI in Korea.
Methods:
A 2-part cost-effectiveness model, composed of a short-term decision tree model and a long-term Markov model, was developed for patients who underwent PCI to treat intermediate stenosis (40% to 70% stenosis by visual estimation on coronary angiography).The lifetime healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated from the healthcare system perspective. Transition probabilities were mainly referred from the FLAVOUR trial, and healthcare costs were mainly obtained through analysis of Korean National Health Insurance claims data. Health utilities were mainly obtained from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire responses of FLAVOUR trial participants mapped to EQ-5D.
Results:
From the Korean healthcare system perspective, the base-case analysis showed that FFR-guided PCI was 2,451 U.S. dollar lower in lifetime healthcare costs and 0.178 higher in QALYs compared to IVUS-guided PCI. FFR-guided PCI remained more likely to be cost-effective over a wide range of willingness-to-pay thresholds in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions
Based on the results from the FLAVOUR trial, FFR-guided PCI is projected to decrease lifetime healthcare costs and increase QALYs compared with IVUS-guided PCI in intermediate coronary lesion, and it is a dominant strategy in Korea.
2.Anesthesia effect of remazolam or ciprofol combined with remifentanil for painless gastroscopy in elderly overweight patients
Kuilin SUN ; Wei LI ; Chenhao SUN ; Wenming WU ; Hongchun BIAN
China Journal of Endoscopy 2025;31(8):39-48
Objective To compare and analyze the application effects of ciprofol+remifentanil and remazolam+remifentanil in painless gastrointestinal gastroscopy in elderly overweight patients.Methods The subjects of this study,122 elderly overweight patients for painless gastrointestinal endoscopy from October 2023 to October 2024,were randomly divided into H group and R group,each with 61 cases.At the same time,122 elderly patients with normal body weight who planned to undergo painless gastrointestinal endoscopy during the same period were randomly divided into H1 group and R1 group,61 cases in each group.All subjects received a slow intravenous injection of remifentanil at a dose of 0.5 μg/kg,30 s later Group H and H1 group were administered with a slow intravenous injection of ciprofol at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg,while Group R and R1 group were given a slow intravenous injection of remazolam at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg.Anesthesia effect and perioperative indicators(examination time,induction time,etc.),and the hemodynamic parameters[mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR)and percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation(SpO2)]were compared of the four groups immediately after the establishment of electrocardiogram monitoring(T0),upon completion of anesthesia induction(T1),when gastroscopy passed through the throat(T2),when enteroscopy passed through the hepatic flexure(T3),and immediately after completion of surgery(T4),as well as adverse reactions were compared of the four groups.Results Excellent anesthesia rate:group H and H1 group were higher than group R(96.72%,98.36%vs.86.89%,P<0.05).Induction time:no difference was found of the four groups(P>0.05).Examination time:group H and group R were significantly longer than that in group H1 and group R1(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between group H and group R,and between group H1 and group R1(P>0.05).The time of awakening and moving out of postanesthesia care unit(PACU):group H,group R,group H1 and group R1 gradually decreased,and the differences between each two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in MAP and HR of the four groups,time and interaction effects(P<0.05).The difference of SpO2 of the four groups was statistically significant(P<0.05),and the difference of time and interaction effect was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Incidence of injection pain:group H and group H1 were lower than group R and group R1(P<0.05).Incidence of other adverse reactions:no significant difference of four groups(P>0.05).Conclusion During painless gastrointestinal endoscopy of elderly overweight patients the application of ciprofol+remifentanil can achieve better anesthetic effect and lower incidence of injection pain as compared with remazolam+remifentanil.The anesthetic effect of the two anesthesia regimens is similar in elderly normal weight patients,but the elderly normal weight patients have a faster recovery from anesthesia than the elderly overweight patients.
3.Clinical study of self-help inflatable balloon for refractory benign upper digestive tract stricture
Qianqian DONG ; Wenbo LI ; Qun LI ; Zengyi MA ; Wenming WU ; Minghui WANG ; Jing WANG ; Feifei FAN ; Kuilin SUN ; Xiaofeng LIU
China Journal of Endoscopy 2025;31(4):80-85
Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of self-help inflatable balloon in the treatment of refractory benign upper digestive tract stricture.Methods From November 2022 to February 2024,10 patients with refractory benign upper digestive tract stricture underwent self-help inflatable balloon were retrospectively analyzed.Preoperative treatment,intraoperative and postoperative complications,dysphagia score before and after surgery,wearing time of external self-help inflatable balloon,and the clinical efficacy were evaluated.Results All the 10 patients received self-help inflatable balloon treatment.No complications such as bleeding and perforation occurred in all patients during the wearing of the balloon.The placement time of the balloon was 60~180 d,and the average wearing time was 104.9 d.Before surgery,nine cases had a stricture segment length less than 2 cm,and one case had a stricture segment length of 6 cm.The dysphagia score before surgery was(3.60±0.52),and the dysphagia score after removal of the self-help inflatable balloon was(0.60±0.52),and there was statistical significance in preoperative and postoperative comparison(P<0.05).The dysphagia score 3 months after removal of the external self-help inflatable balloon was(0.70±0.48),there was no significant difference in dysphagia score between the day after surgery and 3 months after surgery(P>0.05).The diameter of the stricture before and after operation was(5.09±2.02)mm and(10.35±0.73)mm respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Sore throat,wing of nose pain and balloon displacement were the most common adverse events,with 30.0%(3/10),50.0%(5/10)and 70.0%(7/10),respectively.Conclusion It is safe,effective and feasible to treat refractory benign upper digestive tract stricture with self-help inflatable balloon in vitro.It is worthy for clinical application.
4.Exploring the Mechanism of Zhinao Capsule in the Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease Based on Clinical Trials and Network Pharmacology
Qiaoyu XUAN ; Daiping HUA ; Lanting SUN ; Xin YIN ; Wenming YANG ; Han WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(10):3075-3084
Objective By observing the clinical efficacy of Zhinao capsule in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment(PD-MCI)patients,we also explored the potential mechanism using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,with the aim of providing a new idea for the treatment of PD-MCI with traditional Chinese medicine.Methods Random number table method was applied to divide the control group and test group into 35 cases each.Parkinson's disease basic treatment plan was used in the control group,and Zhinao capsule was added in the test group.The observation course was determined to be 8 weeks.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score,MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(MDS-UPDRS)Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ,PD Traditional Chinese Medicine(PD-TCM),and safety-related indexes were completed before treatment and at the end of the 8th week of treatment.The network pharmacology method was used to obtain the targets related to Zhinao capsules and PD-MCI.Constructed and analyzed the"drug-component-target"network.Analysis of"drug-disease"intersecting targets and enrichment of Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways was obtained using R language.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1.Finally,molecular docking was conducted.Results The MoCA score of the test group was remarkably greater than that of the control group after treatment(P<0.05);and the TCM syndrome score were noticeably below that of the control group(P<0.05).The test group showed a notable increase in the mean value of MoCA scale scores,and a clear decrease in the MDS-UPDRS Ⅰand PD-TCM before and after treatment(P<0.05).The MDS-UPDRS Ⅱ and Ⅲ scale scores of the test and control groups decreased to different degrees after treatment,but there was no significant difference(P>0.05).Zhinao capsules for PD-MCI treatment has calycosin,quercetin,kaempferol,etc.as core active ingredients,and TNF,IL-1β,IL-6,etc.as core targets.Molecular docking results also showed better binding of the core target to the active ingredient.Zhinao capsules regulates the expression of PPAR,cGMP-PKG,Oxytocin and other signaling pathway-related genes.Conclusion The Zhinao capsules can improve the cognitive function of PD-MCI patients,and the mechanism may be related to the fact that the components such as calycosin,quercetin,and kaempferol act on the targets such as TNF,IL-1β,and IL-6,and mediate the signaling pathways such as PPAR,cGMP-PKG,and Oxytocin.
5.Exploring the Mechanism of Zhinao Capsule in the Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease Based on Clinical Trials and Network Pharmacology
Qiaoyu XUAN ; Daiping HUA ; Lanting SUN ; Xin YIN ; Wenming YANG ; Han WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(10):3075-3084
Objective By observing the clinical efficacy of Zhinao capsule in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment(PD-MCI)patients,we also explored the potential mechanism using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,with the aim of providing a new idea for the treatment of PD-MCI with traditional Chinese medicine.Methods Random number table method was applied to divide the control group and test group into 35 cases each.Parkinson's disease basic treatment plan was used in the control group,and Zhinao capsule was added in the test group.The observation course was determined to be 8 weeks.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score,MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(MDS-UPDRS)Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ,PD Traditional Chinese Medicine(PD-TCM),and safety-related indexes were completed before treatment and at the end of the 8th week of treatment.The network pharmacology method was used to obtain the targets related to Zhinao capsules and PD-MCI.Constructed and analyzed the"drug-component-target"network.Analysis of"drug-disease"intersecting targets and enrichment of Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways was obtained using R language.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1.Finally,molecular docking was conducted.Results The MoCA score of the test group was remarkably greater than that of the control group after treatment(P<0.05);and the TCM syndrome score were noticeably below that of the control group(P<0.05).The test group showed a notable increase in the mean value of MoCA scale scores,and a clear decrease in the MDS-UPDRS Ⅰand PD-TCM before and after treatment(P<0.05).The MDS-UPDRS Ⅱ and Ⅲ scale scores of the test and control groups decreased to different degrees after treatment,but there was no significant difference(P>0.05).Zhinao capsules for PD-MCI treatment has calycosin,quercetin,kaempferol,etc.as core active ingredients,and TNF,IL-1β,IL-6,etc.as core targets.Molecular docking results also showed better binding of the core target to the active ingredient.Zhinao capsules regulates the expression of PPAR,cGMP-PKG,Oxytocin and other signaling pathway-related genes.Conclusion The Zhinao capsules can improve the cognitive function of PD-MCI patients,and the mechanism may be related to the fact that the components such as calycosin,quercetin,and kaempferol act on the targets such as TNF,IL-1β,and IL-6,and mediate the signaling pathways such as PPAR,cGMP-PKG,and Oxytocin.
6.Anesthesia effect of remazolam or ciprofol combined with remifentanil for painless gastroscopy in elderly overweight patients
Kuilin SUN ; Wei LI ; Chenhao SUN ; Wenming WU ; Hongchun BIAN
China Journal of Endoscopy 2025;31(8):39-48
Objective To compare and analyze the application effects of ciprofol+remifentanil and remazolam+remifentanil in painless gastrointestinal gastroscopy in elderly overweight patients.Methods The subjects of this study,122 elderly overweight patients for painless gastrointestinal endoscopy from October 2023 to October 2024,were randomly divided into H group and R group,each with 61 cases.At the same time,122 elderly patients with normal body weight who planned to undergo painless gastrointestinal endoscopy during the same period were randomly divided into H1 group and R1 group,61 cases in each group.All subjects received a slow intravenous injection of remifentanil at a dose of 0.5 μg/kg,30 s later Group H and H1 group were administered with a slow intravenous injection of ciprofol at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg,while Group R and R1 group were given a slow intravenous injection of remazolam at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg.Anesthesia effect and perioperative indicators(examination time,induction time,etc.),and the hemodynamic parameters[mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR)and percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation(SpO2)]were compared of the four groups immediately after the establishment of electrocardiogram monitoring(T0),upon completion of anesthesia induction(T1),when gastroscopy passed through the throat(T2),when enteroscopy passed through the hepatic flexure(T3),and immediately after completion of surgery(T4),as well as adverse reactions were compared of the four groups.Results Excellent anesthesia rate:group H and H1 group were higher than group R(96.72%,98.36%vs.86.89%,P<0.05).Induction time:no difference was found of the four groups(P>0.05).Examination time:group H and group R were significantly longer than that in group H1 and group R1(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between group H and group R,and between group H1 and group R1(P>0.05).The time of awakening and moving out of postanesthesia care unit(PACU):group H,group R,group H1 and group R1 gradually decreased,and the differences between each two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in MAP and HR of the four groups,time and interaction effects(P<0.05).The difference of SpO2 of the four groups was statistically significant(P<0.05),and the difference of time and interaction effect was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Incidence of injection pain:group H and group H1 were lower than group R and group R1(P<0.05).Incidence of other adverse reactions:no significant difference of four groups(P>0.05).Conclusion During painless gastrointestinal endoscopy of elderly overweight patients the application of ciprofol+remifentanil can achieve better anesthetic effect and lower incidence of injection pain as compared with remazolam+remifentanil.The anesthetic effect of the two anesthesia regimens is similar in elderly normal weight patients,but the elderly normal weight patients have a faster recovery from anesthesia than the elderly overweight patients.
7.Gandouling Regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR Autophagy Signaling Pathway via LncRNA H19 for Treatment of Wilson Disease Liver Fibrosis
Xin YIN ; Han WANG ; Daiping HUA ; Lanting SUN ; Yunyun XU ; Wenming YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):131-138
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanisms and pathways through which Gandouling (GDL) exerts its effects in the treatment of liver fibrosis in Wilson disease. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the GDL low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (0.24, 0.48, 0.96 g·kg-1), and the penicillamine group (90 mg·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. A copper-loaded Wilson disease rat model was established by gavage administration of 300 mg·kg-1 copper sulfate pentahydrate to all groups except the normal group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathomorphological changes in the liver. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen type-Ⅲ peptide (PC-Ⅲ), and collagen type-Ⅳ (C-Ⅳ). Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure of liver tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of liver tissues and serum exosomal long noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and their phosphorylated forms, as well as autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ) in liver tissues. Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ fluorescence signal intensity was observed by immunofluorescence. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration in hepatocytes, unclear nuclear boundaries with cell cleavage and necrosis, and collagen fiber deposition around confluent areas. The levels of HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and C-Ⅳ were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopy revealed an increased number of autophagic vesicles, with autophagic lysosomes exhibiting a single-layer membrane structure following degradation of most envelopes. Expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ were significantly increased (P<0.01), and fluorescence signals of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ were markedly enhanced. The protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were reduced (P<0.01), while LncRNA H19 expression was increased (P<0.01), and mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR were decreased (P<0.01). After treatment with GDL, the degree of liver fibrosis was significantly improved, with decreased levels of HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and C-Ⅳ. The number of autophagic vesicles was significantly reduced, and expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ proteins were lower (P<0.01). The fluorescence signals of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ weakened dose-dependently. The protein levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were elevated (P<0.01), while the expression level of LncRNA H19 was reduced (P<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionGDL may alleviate liver fibrosis and reduce liver injury by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR autophagy signaling pathway via LncRNA H19.
8.Cost-effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Intravascular Ultrasound to Guide Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the FLAVOUR Study
Doyeon HWANG ; Hea-Lim KIM ; Jane KO ; HyunJin CHOI ; Hanna JEONG ; Sun-ae JANG ; Xinyang HU ; Jeehoon KANG ; Jinlong ZHANG ; Jun JIANG ; Joo-Yong HAHN ; Chang-Wook NAM ; Joon-Hyung DOH ; Bong-Ki LEE ; Weon KIM ; Jinyu HUANG ; Fan JIANG ; Hao ZHOU ; Peng CHEN ; Lijiang TANG ; Wenbing JIANG ; Xiaomin CHEN ; Wenming HE ; Sung Gyun AHN ; Ung KIM ; You-Jeong KI ; Eun-Seok SHIN ; Hyo-Soo KIM ; Seung-Jea TAHK ; JianAn WANG ; Tae-Jin LEE ; Bon-Kwon KOO ;
Korean Circulation Journal 2025;55(1):34-46
Background and Objectives:
The Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular UltrasoundGuided Intervention Strategy for Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intermediate Stenosis (FLAVOUR) trial demonstrated non-inferiority of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. We sought to investigate the cost-effectiveness of FFR-guided PCI compared to IVUS-guided PCI in Korea.
Methods:
A 2-part cost-effectiveness model, composed of a short-term decision tree model and a long-term Markov model, was developed for patients who underwent PCI to treat intermediate stenosis (40% to 70% stenosis by visual estimation on coronary angiography).The lifetime healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated from the healthcare system perspective. Transition probabilities were mainly referred from the FLAVOUR trial, and healthcare costs were mainly obtained through analysis of Korean National Health Insurance claims data. Health utilities were mainly obtained from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire responses of FLAVOUR trial participants mapped to EQ-5D.
Results:
From the Korean healthcare system perspective, the base-case analysis showed that FFR-guided PCI was 2,451 U.S. dollar lower in lifetime healthcare costs and 0.178 higher in QALYs compared to IVUS-guided PCI. FFR-guided PCI remained more likely to be cost-effective over a wide range of willingness-to-pay thresholds in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions
Based on the results from the FLAVOUR trial, FFR-guided PCI is projected to decrease lifetime healthcare costs and increase QALYs compared with IVUS-guided PCI in intermediate coronary lesion, and it is a dominant strategy in Korea.
9.Study on the traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in 757 cases of children with hepatolenticular degeneration based on factor analysis and cluster analysis
Daiping HUA ; Han WANG ; Qiaoyu XUAN ; Lanting SUN ; Ling XIN ; Xin YIN ; Wenming YANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(3):303-311
Objective:
To explore the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in children with hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson disease, WD) based on factor analysis and cluster analysis.
Methods:
From November 2018 to November 2023, general information (gender, age of admission, age of onset, course of disease, clinical staging, Western medicine clinical symptoms, and family history) and TCM four-examination informations (symptoms and signs) were retrospectively collected from 757 cases of children with WD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, and factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to investigate TCM syndromes in children with WD.
Results:
A total of 757 children with WD were included, of which 483 were male and 274 were female; the median age at admission was 12.58 years, the median age at onset was 8.33 years, and the median course of disease was 24.37 months; clinical typing result indicated 506 cases of hepatic type, 133 cases of brain type, 99 cases of mixed-type, and 19 cases of other type; 36.46% of the children had no clinical symptoms (elevated aminotransferases or abnormalities in copper biochemistry); a total of 177 cases had a definite family history, and 10 cases had a suspected family history. Forty-three TCM four-examination information were obtained, with the top 10 in descending order being feeling listless and weak, brown urine, slow action, inappetence, dim complexion, slurred speech, angular salivation, body weight loss, hand and foot tremors, and abdominal fullness. In children with WD, the syndrome element of disease location was primarily characterized by the liver, involving the spleen and kidney, and the syndrome elements of disease nature were characterized by dampness, heat, and yin deficiency. Based on factor analysis and cluster analysis, five TCM syndromes were derived, which were, in order, syndrome of dampness-heat accumulation (265 cases, 35.01%), syndrome of yin deficiency of the liver and kidney (202 cases, 26.68%), syndrome of liver hyperactivity with spleen deficiency (185 cases, 24.44%), syndrome of qi and blood deficiency (79 cases, 10.44%), and syndrome of yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney (26 cases, 3.43%).
Conclusion
The TCM syndromes of children with WD were primarily syndromes of dampness-heat accumulation, yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, and liver hyperactivity with spleen deficiency. The liver was the main disease location, and the disease nature was characterized by deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality, excess and deficiency mixed. These findings suggest that treating children with WD should be based on the liver while also considering the spleen and kidney.
10.Cost-effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Intravascular Ultrasound to Guide Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the FLAVOUR Study
Doyeon HWANG ; Hea-Lim KIM ; Jane KO ; HyunJin CHOI ; Hanna JEONG ; Sun-ae JANG ; Xinyang HU ; Jeehoon KANG ; Jinlong ZHANG ; Jun JIANG ; Joo-Yong HAHN ; Chang-Wook NAM ; Joon-Hyung DOH ; Bong-Ki LEE ; Weon KIM ; Jinyu HUANG ; Fan JIANG ; Hao ZHOU ; Peng CHEN ; Lijiang TANG ; Wenbing JIANG ; Xiaomin CHEN ; Wenming HE ; Sung Gyun AHN ; Ung KIM ; You-Jeong KI ; Eun-Seok SHIN ; Hyo-Soo KIM ; Seung-Jea TAHK ; JianAn WANG ; Tae-Jin LEE ; Bon-Kwon KOO ;
Korean Circulation Journal 2025;55(1):34-46
Background and Objectives:
The Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular UltrasoundGuided Intervention Strategy for Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intermediate Stenosis (FLAVOUR) trial demonstrated non-inferiority of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. We sought to investigate the cost-effectiveness of FFR-guided PCI compared to IVUS-guided PCI in Korea.
Methods:
A 2-part cost-effectiveness model, composed of a short-term decision tree model and a long-term Markov model, was developed for patients who underwent PCI to treat intermediate stenosis (40% to 70% stenosis by visual estimation on coronary angiography).The lifetime healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated from the healthcare system perspective. Transition probabilities were mainly referred from the FLAVOUR trial, and healthcare costs were mainly obtained through analysis of Korean National Health Insurance claims data. Health utilities were mainly obtained from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire responses of FLAVOUR trial participants mapped to EQ-5D.
Results:
From the Korean healthcare system perspective, the base-case analysis showed that FFR-guided PCI was 2,451 U.S. dollar lower in lifetime healthcare costs and 0.178 higher in QALYs compared to IVUS-guided PCI. FFR-guided PCI remained more likely to be cost-effective over a wide range of willingness-to-pay thresholds in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
Conclusions
Based on the results from the FLAVOUR trial, FFR-guided PCI is projected to decrease lifetime healthcare costs and increase QALYs compared with IVUS-guided PCI in intermediate coronary lesion, and it is a dominant strategy in Korea.


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