Advocating the Need for a CT Coronary Angiography Screening Program for Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease in High – Risk Population & guiding future pharmaceutical research

BACKGROUND: The increased utility of CT coronary angiography (CTCA) in cardiovascular screenings of aircrew has led to the increased detection of asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). A systematic review of studies relevant to the interpretation of CTCA for the occupational fitness assessment of high-risk vocations was performed, with findings used to describe the development of a pathway for the aeromedical disposition of military aviators with asymptomatic CAD.METHODS: Medline was searched using the terms CT coronary angiogram and screening and prognosis. The inclusion criteria were restricted to study populations ages > 18 yr, were asymptomatic, were not known to have CAD, had undergone CTCA, and with their associations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and other relevant cardiac outcomes reported.RESULTS: Included in this systematic review were 10 studies. When compared to subjects with no or nonobstructive CAD, those with obstructive CAD on CTCA had hazard ratios (HR) for cardiac events ranging from 1.42 to 105.48. Comparing subjects with nonobstructive CAD and those without CAD on CTCA, a lower HR of 1.19 for cardiac events was found. The annual event rates of subjects with no CAD on CTCA were extremely low, ranging from 0 to 0.5%.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, we suggest that CTCA should only be performed in aircrew with higher cardiac risk profiles. Those found to have no CAD or minimal CAD (i.e., 25% stenosis) in a non-left main coronary artery on CTCA can be returned to flying duties. All other results should be further evaluated with an invasive angiogram.Cheong RWL, See B, Tan BBC, Koh CH. Coronary artery disease screening using CT coronary angiography. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(10):812817.

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320-detector row CT coronary angiography in pre-operation screening of coronary artery disease in patients with rheumatic left artrioventricular valve disease and atrial fibrillation

Academic Journal of Second Military Medical University ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1008.2012.00629 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 629-632

Author(s):

Xue-wen LIAO ◽

Li LI ◽

Lin HAN ◽

Fang-lin LU ◽

Zhi-yun XU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Coronary Angiography ◽

Ct Coronary Angiography ◽

Valve Disease ◽

Artery Disease

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Downstream testing after CT coronary angiography: time for a rethink?

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2021-001597 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e001597

Author(s):

Gareth Morgan-Hughes ◽

Michelle Claire Williams ◽

Margaret Loudon ◽

Carl A Roobottom ◽

Alice Veitch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Chest Pain ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Coronary Angiography ◽

Communication Systems ◽

Ct Coronary Angiography ◽

Second Line ◽

Recent Onset ◽

Line Test ◽

Artery Disease

ObjectiveWe surveyed UK practice and compliance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ‘recent-onset chest pain’ guidance (Clinical Guideline 95, 2016) as a service quality initiative. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility and efficacy of CT coronary angiography (CTCA), NICE-guided investigation compliance, invasive coronary angiography (ICA) use and revascularisation.MethodsA prospective analysis was conducted in nine UK centres between January 2018 and March 2020. The reporter decided whether the CTCA was diagnostic. Coronary artery disease was recorded with the Coronary Artery Disease–Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS). Local electronic records and picture archiving/communication systems were used to collect data regarding functional testing, ICA and revascularisation. Duplication of coronary angiography without revascularisation was taken as a surrogate for ICA overuse.Results5293 patients (mean age, 57±12 years; body mass index, 29±6 kg/m²; 50% men) underwent CTCA, with a 96% diagnostic scan rate. 618 (12%) underwent ICA, of which 48% (298/618) did not receive revascularisation. 3886 (73%) had CAD-RADS 0–2, with 1% (35/3886) undergoing ICA, of which 94% (33/35) received ICA as a second-line test. 547 (10%) had CAD-RADS 3, with 23% (125/547) undergoing ICA, of which 88% (110/125) chose ICA as a second-line test, with 26% (33/125) leading to revascularisation. For 552 (10%) CAD-RADS 4 and 91 (2%) CAD-RADS 5 patients, ICA revascularisation rates were 64% (221/345) and 74% (46/62), respectively.ConclusionsWhile CTCA for recent-onset chest pain assessment has been shown to be a robust test, which negates the need for further investigation in three-quarters of patients, subsequent ICA overuse remains with almost half of these procedures not leading to revascularisation.

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