Fish and Chips
Research type
Research Study
Full title
FFRCT In Stable Heart disease & CTA Helps Improve Patient care and Societal costs
IRAS ID
285996
Contact name
Timothy Fairbairn
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
285996, IRAS
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Chest pain may be a symptom that is related to a narrowing of the heart blood vessels (coronary artery disease [CAD]). This chest pain, known as angina, can result in a reduced quality of life and, if not diagnosed and managed appropriately, could result in a heart attack. Coronary disease remains the largest cause of death in the United Kingdom today, with one death every 4 minutes. Guidelines recommend the use of tests to help diagnose and manage chest pain ‘angina’ patients. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a test that takes images of the heart blood vessels. It is the main test for patients presenting with angina, as it is excellent at saying when the heart blood vessels are normal, and can be reassuring for patients. However, when narrowing’s are present CCTA lacks the ability to tell whether they are causing the patient’s symptoms.
A new technology, CT-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRCT) uses the CCTA images to make a 3D model of the heart blood vessels that shows whether there is a limitation in the blood flow to the heart which is causing the symptoms. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the use of FFRCT in a chest pain pathway. However, use of this new technology remains limited due to funding restrictions and uncertainty as to its benefit in the NHS.
This study aims to determine the extent to which the new FFRCT technology is safe and reliable, provides a quicker time to diagnosis for the patient and reduces the need for further tests. It will thus determine whether the test represents good value to the NHS.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0430
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion