Prognostic Value of CT-Based Coronary Imaging for Perioperative Cardiovascular Risk Stratification Before Noncardiac Surgery: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Perioperative cardiovascular complications remain a major concern in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Coronary computed tomography (CT)-based imaging, including coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, coronary CT angiography (CCTA), and CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR), enables noninvasive assessment of coronary plaque burden, anatomic stenosis, and functional ischemia. However, the comparative prognostic value of these CT-based imaging markers for predicting perioperative major adverse cardiac events (MACE) has not been systematically evaluated. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating CT-based coronary imaging before noncardiac surgery. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception through December 2025. Studies were included if they assessed CAC, CCTA, or CT-FFR and reported perioperative MACE. Risk of bias was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using a random-effects model. The CT-FFR analysis was pre-specified as exploratory given the limited number of eligible studies. Results: A total of 13 studies including 10,100 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery were included in the systematic review, and 9 studies were eligible for quantitative meta-analysis. Obstructive coronary artery disease detected by CCTA was strongly associated with perioperative MACE (pooled odds ratio [OR] 7.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.89–13.25). CAC burden was also significantly associated with perioperative cardiac risk (pooled OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.76–3.50). One study evaluating CT-FFR demonstrated a strong association between CT-FFR-defined ischemia and perioperative events (OR 10.77, 95% CI 4.64–25.02). These findings suggest that different CT-based imaging markers provide complementary prognostic information, with anatomic and functional assessment offering higher point estimates than plaque burden scoring. Conclusions: CT-based coronary imaging markers are significantly associated with perioperative MACE in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. CAC burden and obstructive CAD detected on CCTA demonstrated consistent prognostic associations with perioperative cardiovascular events across multiple studies. CT-FFR showed a strong exploratory signal in a single eligible study, suggesting a potential additional role for functional ischemia assessment, although further validation in larger prospective cohorts is required. CT-based coronary imaging may therefore provide valuable complementary information for perioperative cardiovascular risk stratification.