Abstract 9401: Impact of Visceral Abdominal Tissue on Coronary Artery Disease as Defined by Quantitative Computed Tomographic Angiography

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity has long been associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Visceral abdominal tissue (VAT) has been proposed as an important CVD risk stratification metric and has been shown to correlate with the extent and severity of coronary artery plaque. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the presence and severity of VAT with the presence and severity of coronary artery plaque as defined by total plaque volume (TPV), calcified plaque (CP) volume, non-calcified plaque (NCP) volume, and high risk low-density non-calcified plaque (LD-NCP) using quantitative coronary computed tomography atherosclerosis imaging (AI-QCT). Methods: We reviewed 145 consecutive patients who had undergone CCTA and CT visceral fat analysis for health screening purposes. Atherosclerosis imaging - quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT) was performed for TPV, percent atheroma volume (PAV), and the presence of stenosis. We segmented atherosclerosis by composition for CP, NCP and LD-NCP. Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.1 ± 8.5 years, 84.0% male. Overall, 3.5% had a history of diabetes, 19% hypertension, 38% dyslipidemia, 8% current smokers, and 34% had a family history of CAD. There was a stepwise progression of the median coronary plaque volume for each quartile of visceral fat including total plaque volume (Q1: 19.8, Q2: 48.1, Q3: 86.4, and Q4: 136.6 mm 3 (P=0.0098)), NCP (Q1: 15.7, Q2: 35.4, Q3: 86.4, and Q4: 136.6 mm 3 (P=0.0032)) and LD-NCP (Q1: 0.6, Q2: 0.81, Q3: 2.0, and Q4: 5.0 mm 3 (P<0.0001)). Conclusion: Our findings represent the first demonstration of a stepwise progression with regards to visceral abdominal tissue and total plaque volume, non-calcified plaque volume, and, particularly of note, low density non-calcified plaque volume. A stepwise progression as demonstrated here may indicate the future usefulness of VAT in CVD risk stratification and its role in longitudinal preventive care.