scholarly journals Visual estimate of coronary artery calcium predicts prevalent coronary artery disease in patients with respiratory disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Saluja ◽  
S Anderson ◽  
S Ali ◽  
N Abidin ◽  
N Hussain ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) measured using ECG-triggered coronary computed tomography correlates strongly with overt cardiovascular disease risk. Evidence is emerging to suggest CAC measured on non-gated thoracic CT scans may also correlate with cardiovascular disease. Herein, we sought to ascertain the utility of Weston scoring (visual score for CAC) in predicting prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) for patients undergoing lung cancer screening or follow-up for interstitial lung disease with a non-triggered high-resolution CT (HRCT) thorax. Methods The Computerised Radiology Information Service (CRIS) database was manually searched to determine all HRCT scans performed in a single UK trust from 01/05/2016 to 01/05/2017 for the aforementioned indications. Radiology reports and images of selected studies were reviewed. For patients with evidence of CAC, we calculated the calcium score using the Agatston and Weston methods. Clinical events were determined from the electronic medical record without knowledge of patients' CAC findings. At baseline, significant CAC was defined as Agatston >400 and Weston >7. Results 2152 scans were analysed. Data at follow up was available for 100% of patients, with a median duration of follow up of 3.6 years. A history of CAD was reported by 8% (172) of subjects at baseline, who were subsequently excluded from analysis. Significant CAC was found in 450 (22.5%) and 650 (32.5%) by Weston and Agatston scores respectively, with a significant correlation between the two scores (r-0.71, p<0.01). During follow up 7.4% (160) of patients developed incident CVD. Patients with low Weston scores of ≤7 and Agatston scores of ≤400 had a lower incidence of CVD compared to those with Weston >7 and Agatston >400 (31 [19.3%] vs 129 [80.6%]; P=0.003 for Weston scores; 37 [23.1%] vs 123 [76.9%] for Agatston scores; P<0.001). Conclusion In this retrospective study of patients with respiratory disease attending for HRCT scanning, the Weston visual score for CAC performs well in predicting prevalent CAD and future CVD events. With previous data demonstrating excellent inter- and intra- observer agreement, our study demonstrates Weston scoring is a valid tool in reporting non-gated CT scans, removing the need for dedicated software analysis as required with the Agatston score, and has a high overall positive and negative predictive value for future CVD. Further multi-centre prospective studies of this strategy, should be conducted to clarify the utility of Weston CAC scoring in non-gated CTs as a prediction tool which may be used to modify cardiac risk and reduce the risk of incident cardiovascular events. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1558-1569
Author(s):  
Vlad C. Vasile ◽  
Jeffrey W. Meeusen ◽  
Jose R. Medina Inojosa ◽  
Leslie J. Donato ◽  
Christopher G. Scott ◽  
...  

Objective: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Ceramide scores have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with established coronary artery disease. The prognostic value of ceramide score has not been assessed in the general population. We tested the hypothesis that ceramide scores are associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in a community-based cohort with average coronary artery disease burden at enrollment. Approach and results: In a prospective community-based cohort, we performed passive follow-up using a record linkage system to ascertain the composite outcome of MACE, defined as acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization (bypass grafting or percutaneous intervention), stroke, or death. Ceramides were analyzed as log-transformed continuous variables, ratios or scores, and quartiles with adjustment for confounders. We analyzed 1131 subjects, 52% females, mean age±(SD) 64±9 years. After a median follow-up of 13.3 years (Q1, 12.7; Q3, 14.4), 486 patients experienced a MACE: myocardial infarction (80), coronary artery bypass surgery (34), percutaneous coronary intervention (62), stroke (94), and all-cause death (362). Ceramide ratios were significantly associated with MACE independently of LDL-c (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and conventional coronary artery disease risk factors. Those in the highest quartile of ceramide score had nearly 1.5-fold risk of MACE, hazard ratio, 1.47 (95% CI, 1.12–1.92). There was a dose-response association across quartiles of ceramide ratios and MACE. Conclusions: Elevated ceramide score is a robust predictor of cardiovascular disease and MACE in the community. The risk conferred by the ceramide score has a dose-response behavior and is independent of conventional risk factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Atere ◽  
William Lim ◽  
Vishnuveni Leelaruban ◽  
Bhavya Narala ◽  
Stephanie Herrera ◽  
...  

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Approximately 25% of total deaths in the United States are attributed to cardiovascular diseases. Modification of risk factors has been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in people with coronary artery disease. Medications such as statins are well known for reducing risks and recent data has shown that statins are beneficial in the primary prevention of coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study is to assess whether statins are being prescribed on discharge to patients who are identified as intermediate to high risk using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations. Methodology: We reviewed and analyzed the charts of hospitalized patient’s ages 40 to 79 years who were discharged under the service of Internal Medicine at Richmond University Medical Center from September 2018 to August 2019. Exclusion criteria included: patients that expired before discharge or were admitted to the intensive or coronary care units, pregnancy, previous diagnosis of coronary/peripheral artery disease or stroke, already on statins or lipid-lowering medications, allergic to statins, discharged on statins for coronary/peripheral artery disease or stroke, and patients with liver disease or elevated liver enzymes. We used the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations risk to calculate the 10-year coronary artery disease risk for each patient. Results: The 10-year risk is grouped as low risk (<5%), borderline risk (5% to 7.4%), intermediate risk (7.5% to 19.9%) and high risk (≥20%). Among 898 patients, 10% had intermediate and high risk that were not discharged with statins. Among the 10%, about 6.6% were intermediate risk and 3.4% were high risk. Conclusions: A significant number of intermediate and high-risk patients were discharged without statins, although a CT coronary calcium may be helpful in further classifying the risk in some of them. We believe that a lipid profile should be checked in all hospitalized patients 40 years and older in order to calculate their atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease risk score and to possibly initiate statins after discussing the benefits and side effects, particularly in the intermediate risk group. The continuation of statins would be followed up by their primary care physicians. We plan to liaise with the information technology department in our facility to provide a link to the risk calculator in the electronic medical record so that the risk can be calculated and statins initiated as necessary. We will conduct a follow up review to assess for effectiveness.


Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley ◽  
Paul Poirier ◽  
Lora E. Burke ◽  
Jean-Pierre Després ◽  
Penny Gordon-Larsen ◽  
...  

The global obesity epidemic is well established, with increases in obesity prevalence for most countries since the 1980s. Obesity contributes directly to incident cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep disorders. Obesity also leads to the development of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease mortality independently of other cardiovascular risk factors. More recent data highlight abdominal obesity, as determined by waist circumference, as a cardiovascular disease risk marker that is independent of body mass index. There have also been significant advances in imaging modalities for characterizing body composition, including visceral adiposity. Studies that quantify fat depots, including ectopic fat, support excess visceral adiposity as an independent indicator of poor cardiovascular outcomes. Lifestyle modification and subsequent weight loss improve both metabolic syndrome and associated systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. However, clinical trials of medical weight loss have not demonstrated a reduction in coronary artery disease rates. In contrast, prospective studies comparing patients undergoing bariatric surgery with nonsurgical patients with obesity have shown reduced coronary artery disease risk with surgery. In this statement, we summarize the impact of obesity on the diagnosis, clinical management, and outcomes of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias, especially sudden cardiac death and atrial fibrillation. In particular, we examine the influence of obesity on noninvasive and invasive diagnostic procedures for coronary artery disease. Moreover, we review the impact of obesity on cardiac function and outcomes related to heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Finally, we describe the effects of lifestyle and surgical weight loss interventions on outcomes related to coronary artery disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (9) ◽  
pp. 1159-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna G. Aragam ◽  
Pradeep Natarajan

An individual’s susceptibility to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is influenced by numerous clinical and lifestyle factors, motivating the multifaceted approaches currently endorsed for primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention. With growing knowledge of the genetic basis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—in particular, coronary artery disease—and its contribution to disease pathogenesis, there is increased interest in understanding the potential clinical utility of a genetic predictor that might further refine the assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. Rapid scientific and technological advances have enabled widespread genotyping efforts and dynamic research in the field of coronary artery disease genetic risk prediction. In this review, we describe how genomic analyses of coronary artery disease have been leveraged to create polygenic risk scores. We then discuss evaluations of the clinical utility of these scores, pertinent mechanistic insights gleaned, and practical considerations relevant to the implementation of polygenic risk scores in the health care setting.


1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. S74
Author(s):  
L. J. Mengelkoch ◽  
M. L. Pollock ◽  
M. C. Limacher ◽  
J. E. Graves ◽  
D. T. Lowenthal ◽  
...  

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