No impact of sub-clinical coronary artery disease identified by cardiac CT scan on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after a single ablation procedure

Abstract Introduction Cardiac computed tomography (CT) use has progressively increased as the preferred initial test to rule out coronary artery disease (CAD) when clinical likelihood is low. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected by CT is a well-established marker for cardiovascular risk. However, it is not recommended for diagnosis of obstructive CAD. Absence of CAC, defined as an Agatston score of zero, has been associated to good prognosis despite underestimation of non-calcified plaques. Purpose To evaluate whether zero CAC score could help ruling out obstructive CAD in a safely manner. Methods Observational study based on a prospective database of patients (pts) referred to cardiac CT between 2017 and 2019. Pts with an Agatston score of zero were selected. Results We included 176 pts with zero CAC score and non-invasive coronary angiography performed. The median duration of follow-up was 23.9 months. Baseline characteristics of the population are shown in Table 1. In 117 pts (66.5%), cardiac CT was indicated as part of their chest pain evaluation. Mean age was 57.2 years old, 68.2% were women and only and 9.4% were active smokers. Normal coronary arteries were found in 173 pts (98.3%). Obstructive CAD, defined as ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis of a major vessel, was present in 1/176 (0.6%); while non-obstructive atherosclerotic plaques were found in 2 pts (1.1%). During follow-up, one patient died of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. None either suffered from myocardial infarction or needed coronary revascularization. Conclusions In our cohort, a zero CAC score detected by cardiac CT rules out obstructive coronary artery disease in 98.3%, with only 1.7% of non-calcified atherosclerosis plaques and 0.6% of major adverse events. Although further research on this topic is needed, these results support the fact that non-invasive coronary angiography could be avoided in patients with low clinical likelihood of CAD and zero CAC score, facilitating the management of the increasing demand for coronary CT and reduction of radiation dose. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Download Full-text

OPTIMAL ANTITHROMBOTIC THERAPY FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND STABLE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE - A NETWORK META-ANALYSIS

Journal of the American College of Cardiology ◽

10.1016/s0735-1097(21)01512-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 77 (18) ◽

pp. 153

Author(s):

Rahul Gupta ◽

Aaqib Malik ◽

Ross Biggs ◽

Sagar Vadhar ◽

Lekha Racharla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Antithrombotic Therapy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Stable Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Artery Disease

Download Full-text

Prevalence, Epidemiological Characteristics, and Pharmacotherapy of Coronary Artery Disease among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Data from Jo-Fib Study

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57060605 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (6) ◽

pp. 605

Author(s):

Hanna K. Al-Makhamreh ◽

Mohammed Q. Al-Sabbagh ◽

Ala’ E. Shaban ◽

Abdelrahman F. Obiedat ◽

Ayman J. Hammoudeh

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Antiplatelet Agents ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Artery Disease ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics ◽

Cad Risk

Background and Objectives: Patients with AF are at increased risk for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) owing to their shared etiologies and risk factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, cardiovascular risk factors, and used medications of CAD in AF patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, case-control study utilized data from the Jordanian Atrial Fibrillation (Jo-Fib) registry. Investigators collected clinical features, history of co-existing comorbidities, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS BLED scores for all AF patients aged >18 visiting 19 hospitals and 30 outpatient cardiology clinics. A multivariable binary logistic regression was used to asses for factors associated with higher odds of having CAD. Results: Out of 2000 patients with AF, 227 (11.35%) had CAD. Compared to the rest of the sample, those with CAD had significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (82.38%; p < 0.01), hypercholesterolemia (66.52%, p < 0.01), diabetes (56.83%, p < 0.01), and smoking (18.06%, p = 0.04). Patients with AF and CAD had higher use of anticoagulants/antiplatelet agents combination (p < 0.01) compared to the rest of the sample. Females had lower CAD risk than males (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.24–0.50). AF Patients with dyslipidemia (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.8–3.4), smoking (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6), higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.4–1.7), and asymptomatic AF (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3–2.6) had higher risk for CAD. Conclusions: Owing to the increased prevalence of CAD in patients with AF, better control of cardiac risk factors is recommended for this special group. Future studies should investigate such interesting relationships to stratify CAD risk in AF patients. We believe that this study adds valuable information regarding the prevalence, epidemiological characteristics, and pharmacotherapy of CAD in patients with AF.

Download Full-text