After CCTA: More Follow-Up Procedures, Higher Costs

Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is a newer noninvasive anatomical test to detect coronary artery disease (CAD). In this analysis of Medicare claims data, investigators assessed downstream healthcare use and costs after CCTA or several stress testing modalities in 283,000 patients without CAD-related claims during the previous year.

At 180 days, compared with patients who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS; the primary stress test used), patients in the CCTA cohort were more likely to undergo invasive angiography (22.9% vs. 12.1%), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; 7.8% vs. 3.4%), and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG; 3.7% vs. 1.3%); these differences remained significant after adjustment for clinica…