scholarly journals Coronary artery calcium in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing catheter ablation – an opportunity to personalize cardiovascular and thromboembolic risk management

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Fernandes ◽  
R Ladeiras-Lopes ◽  
R Faria ◽  
W Ferreira ◽  
M Carvalho ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction There is a well-established association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a helpful tool to refine cardiovascular risk stratification and guide strategies of cardiovascular (CV) primary prevention. Purpose To evaluate the prevalence and clinical implications of CACS in terms of CV and thromboembolic risk stratification and preventive therapies, in patients with AF and atrial flutter (AFL) undergoing catheter ablation. Methods Cross-sectional study including patients with AF/AFL undergoing multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for ablation procedure planning from 2017 to 2019. Baseline clinical and demographical data were collected. CV and thromboembolic risks were evaluated based on the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) system and CHA2DS2-VASc score. CACS was assessed in patients without history of coronary artery disease using the Agatston method. Results A total of 474 patients were included (441 with AF and 33 with AFL, mean age of 58±10 years, 62% male). Excluding those over 70 years of age (n=50, 11%), most patients had low (n=69, 22%) or moderate (n=188, 60%) CV risk and 277 (64%) patients had a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1 (male) or ≥2 (female). Overall, 265 patients (65%) were under chronic anticoagulation and 157 (39%) were under statin therapy. CAC was present in 254 (54%) patients and showed a multivessel distribution in 62% of the cases. The left main stem was affected in 81 (17%) patients and the left anterior descending artery in 211 (45%). Incorporating CACS>100 as a variable in CHA2DS2-VASc score (vascular disease parameter in patients without history of vascular disease) would have resulted in a significant score reclassification (n=87, 20%) and identification of new potential candidates for anticoagulation (n=12, 3%). Additional, anticoagulation would be indicated as a class IA recommendation in more 26 (6%) patients. Twenty three percent of patients with zero calcium were taking statins, and only 7% of patients with a CACS >300 were on high-intensity statin therapy. According to the recommendations and based on their CACS and current therapy, 103 (25%) patients would be candidates for statin therapy and 69 (17%) patients would be candidates for changes in the current statin therapy intensity (Table 1). Conclusion In our study, more than half of the patients undergoing MDCT before AF/AFL catheter ablation had coronary calcium above zero. Our findings suggest that an opportunistic evaluation of CACS can be clinically valuable in thromboembolic risk stratification and management of preventive pharmacological strategies such as anticoagulation and statins. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Andre ◽  
S Seitz ◽  
P Fortner ◽  
R Sokiranski ◽  
F Gueckel ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Siemens Healthineers Introduction Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) plays an increasing role in the detection and risk stratification of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The Coronary Artery Disease – Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) allows for standardized classification of CCTA results and, thus, may improve patient management. Purpose Aim of this study was to assess the impact of CCTA in combination with CAD-RADS on patient management and to identify the impact of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) on CAD severity. Methods CCTA was performed on a third-generation dual-source CT scanner in patients, who were referred to a radiology centre by their attending physicians. In a total of 4801 patients, CVRF were derived from medical reports and anamnesis. Results The study population consisted of 4770 patients (62.0 (54.0-69.0) years, 2841 males) with CAD (CAD-RADS 1-5), while 31 patients showed no CAD and were excluded from further analyses. Age, male gender and the number of CVRF were associated with more severe CAD stages (all p < 0.001). 3040 patients (63.7 %) showed minimal or mild CAD requiring optimization of CVRF i.e. medical therapy but no further assessment at his time. A group of 266 patients (5.6 %) had a severe CAD defined as CAD-RADS 4B/5. In the multivariate regression analysis, age, male gender, history of smoking, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia were significant predictors for severe CAD, whereas arterial hypertension and family history of CAD did not reach significance. Of note, a subgroup of 28 patients (10.5 %) with a severe CAD (68.5 (65.5-70.0) years, 26 males, both p = n.s.) had no CVRF. Conclusions CCTA in combination with the CAD-RADS allowed for effective risk stratification of CAD patients. The majority of the patients showed non-obstructive CAD and, thus, could be treated conservatively without the need for further CAD assessment. CVRF out of arterial hypertension and family history had an impact on CAD severity reflected in higher CAD-RADs gradings. Of note, a relevant fraction of patients with CAD did not have any CVRF and, thus, may not be covered by risk stratification models. CAD-RADS n Age (years) Males (%) 1 1453 56.0 (50.0-62.0) 623 (42.9 %) 2 1587 62.0 (55.0-69.0) 918 (57.8 %) 3 1067 66.0 (59.0-71.0) 749 (70.2 %) 4A 397 66.0 (59.0-72.0) 317 (79.8 %) 4B 162 67.0 (61.0-74.0) 139 (85.8 %) 5 104 66.0 (58.5.0-77.0) 95 (91.3 %)


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-149
Author(s):  
Hamat Hamdi Che Hassan ◽  

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) events can be accelerated by positive family history of young coronary artery disease (CAD). Risk factors assessment sometimes fail to predict ACS occurrence. Additional investigations with coronary artery calcium (CAC) score can be used independently in screening for primary prevention in some population. This was a cross-sectional study in asymptomatic population with first degree relatives (FDR) having premature CAD compared with a matched population with no family history of CAD from September 2017 to March 2018 at the Cardiology Clinic of Univeristi Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. A total of 36 subjects were recruited with equal number in each group. Female were the majority in each group (66.7%). The FDR group were slightly younger compared to the control group [mean (SD) age 36.9 (4.9) against 38 (3.8), respectively). Both groups represent high risk factors including overweight and obesity, abdominal obesity as well as dyslipidemia. Newly diagnosed dyslipidemia was significant in the group with family history (83.3% versus 44.4%, P<0.01). Both groups were screened either into the low or moderate risk Framingham Risk Score group. CAC score was higher in family history group (11.1% vs 0%, P>0.05). In conclusion, CAC may be irrelevant for screening in younger population. However, the yield of other risk factor is still alarming.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro Ninni ◽  
Gilles Lemesle ◽  
Thibaud Meurice ◽  
Olivier Tricot ◽  
Nicolas Lamblin ◽  
...  

Background: The risk, correlates, and consequences of incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) are largely unknown. Methods and results: We analyzed incident AF during a 3-year follow-up in 5031 CAD outpatients included in the prospective multicenter CARDIONOR registry and with no history of AF at baseline. Incident AF occurred in 266 patients (3-year cumulative incidence: 4.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.1 to 5.3)). Incident AF was diagnosed during cardiology outpatient visits in 177 (66.5%) patients, 87 of whom were asymptomatic. Of note, 46 (17.3%) patients were diagnosed at time of hospitalization for heart failure, and a few patients (n = 5) at the time of ischemic stroke. Five variables were independently associated with incident AF: older age (p < 0.0001), heart failure (p = 0.003), lower left ventricle ejection fraction (p = 0.008), history of hypertension (p = 0.010), and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.033). Anticoagulant therapy was used in 245 (92%) patients and was associated with an antiplatelet drug in half (n = 122). Incident AF was a powerful predictor of all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.47 to 2.83; p < 0.0001) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.88 to 4.43; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In CAD outpatients, real-life incident AF occurs at a stable rate of 1.6% annually and is frequently diagnosed in asymptomatic patients during cardiology outpatient visits. Anticoagulation is used in most cases, often combined with antiplatelet therapy. Incident AF is associated with increased mortality.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-215
Author(s):  
Ben Kirkland ◽  
Parag Joshi ◽  
Abhinav Sharma ◽  
Zhen Qian ◽  
Torrance Laury ◽  
...  

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