Objectives Utility of CT coronary angiography (CTA) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in risk stratification prior to non-cardiac surgery is unclear. Although current guidelines recommend stress testing in intermediate-high risk individuals, over one-third of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) occur in patients with a negative study. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the value of CTA and CAC score in preoperative risk prognostication prior to non-cardiac surgery.

Methods MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published up to June 2018. Summary ORs for degree of coronary artery disease (CAD) and perioperative MACE were pooled using a random-effects model.

Results Eleven studies were included. Two hundred and fifty-two (7.2%) MACE occurred in 3480 patients. Risk of perioperative MACE rose with the severity and extent of CAD on CTA (no CAD 2.0%; non-obstructive 4.1%; obstructive single-vessel 7.1%; obstructive multivessel 23.1%, p<0.001). Multivessel disease (MVD) demonstrated the greatest risk (OR 8.9, 95% CI 5.1 to 15.3, p<0.001). Increasing CAC score was associated with higher perioperative MACE (CAC score: ≥100 OR 5.1, ≥1000 OR 10.4, both p<0.01). In a cohort deemed high risk by established clinical indices, absence of MVD on CTA demonstrated a negative predictive value of 96% (95% CI 92.8 to 98.4) for predicting freedom from MACE.

Conclusions Severity and extent of CAD on CTA conferred incremental risk for perioperative MACE in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The ‘rule-out’ capability of CTA is comparable to other non-invasive imaging modalities and offers a viable alternative for risk stratification of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Trial registration number CRD42018100883