A computerized method for the application of coronary artery disease risk classification models to a large patient population
We have developed a flexible and powerful coronary anatomy classification system which can be applied to the development and evaluation of qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing myocardium in jeopardy on the basis of the severity and location of coronary artery lesions, relative size of arteries, and contributions from collateral blood flow. The system employs a graphical user interface for the interactive generation of a coronary tree diagram depicting a patient's coronary anatomy. An anatomical relational database for over 5000 patients has been collected over the last year as part of the routine clinical operation of our catheterization laboratory. Various classification schemes can be rapidly applied to this data set and itera- lively modified to arrive at a model which correlates best with patient prognosis. These models will incorporate both qualitative and quantitative assessments of vessel and lesion geometry and configuration. The flexibility provided by the easy-to-use interface in combination with a powerful relational database results in a unique system for the development of clinical tools to better define the significance of coronary artery disease detected by angiography.
