Coronary Artery Calcium Burden Research Articles

Associations between family history and coronary artery calcium and coronary heart disease in British Europeans and South Asians

BackgroundThe role of family history in determining excess risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in South Asians compared with Europeans is unclear. We hypothesized that family history would be more strongly associated with CHD in South Asians. MethodsWe performed cross-sectional analyses of 20-year follow-up data from SABRE (Southall And Brent Revisited) population-based study. Initial recruitment (1988–1991) was by random selection from general practitioners' lists in north-west London. 974 Europeans and 734 South Asians completed follow-up questionnaire (2008–2011) and had complete CHD and family history data. 831 participants without cardiovascular disease had complete coronary artery calcium (CAC) data. ResultsSouth Asians with family history of CHD were more likely to have diagnosed CHD (odds ratio 1.71 [95% CI 1.21, 2.42]; p = 0.002) and more previous CHD events (regression coefficient 0.44 [0.16, 0.72]; p = 0.002) than those without family history, independent of biological and sociodemographic risk factors. Family history associations with diagnosed CHD/number of events were weaker in Europeans (odds ratio 1.11 [0.78, 1.57]; p = 0.562/regression coefficient 0.02 [−0.25, 0.30]; p = 0.878), largely explained by biological risk factors. South Asians with family history had modestly increased CAC burden compared with Europeans. ConclusionsThere were markedly stronger associations between family history and clinical CHD in South Asians, and a similar trend for subclinical CHD. Early preventive and therapeutic interventions are particularly important in South Asians with a family history of CHD.

The association between left main coronary artery calcium and cardiovascular-specific and total mortality: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium

Background and aimsLeft main (LM) coronary artery disease is associated with greater myocardial infarction-related mortality, however, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring does not account for disease location. We explored whether LM CAC predicts excess mortality in asymptomatic adults. MethodsCause-specific cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was studied in 28,147 asymptomatic patients with non-zero CAC scores in the CAC Consortium. Multivariate regression was performed to evaluate if the presence and burden of LM CAC predict mortality after adjustment for clinical risk factors and the Agatston CAC score. We further analyzed the per-unit hazard associated with LM CAC in comparison to CAC in other arteries. ResultsThe study population had mean age of 58.3 ± 10 years and CAC score of 301 ± 631. LM CAC was present in 21.7% of the cases. During 312,398 patient-years of follow-up, 1,907 deaths were observed. LM CAC was associated with an increased burden of clinical risk factors and total CAC, and was independently predictive of increased hazard for all-cause (HR 1.2 [1.1, 1.3]) and cardiovascular disease death (HR 1.3 [1.1, 1.5]). The hazard for death increased proportionate to the percentage of CAC localized to the LM. On a per-100 Agatston unit basis, LM CAC was associated with a 6–9% incremental hazard for death beyond knowledge of CAC in other arteries. ConclusionsThe presence and high burden of left main CAC are independently associated with a 20–30% greater hazard for cardiovascular and total mortality in asymptomatic adults, arguing that LM CAC should be routinely noted in CAC score reports when present.

A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study of long-term and incident hemodialysis patients.

The cardiovascular morphology and function in long-term survivors of hemodialysis are not well described. Single-center cross-sectional study nested within a prospective cohort study of 15 long-term (> 7.5years) and 15 matched incident (< 6months) hemodialysis patients with 15 external matched controls. Evaluations included heart structure, function and fibrosis (myocardial longitudinal relaxation time, native T1), and aortic dimensions and elasticity, using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores were evaluated from computed tomography (CT). Incident hemodialysis patients had significantly increased left ventricular mass, greater aortic dimensions and reduced aortic distensibility compared to long-term survivors, whereas the CAC score was significantly higher in long-term than incident patients, median (95% CI) 1127 (10-3861) vs 14 (0-268). Both incident and long-term hemodialysis groups had significantly higher native T1 values compared to controls, mean (95% CI) 1300ms (1273-1326), 1274ms (1243-1305) versus 1224ms (1202-1246), respectively, suggesting interstitial fibrosis or edema. Compared to controls, both hemodialysis groups also had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction: 48.7% (43.6-53.9), 54.0% (48.3-59.7) versus 62.2% (58.0-66.4) and longitudinal strain: 14.0% (11.7-16.2), 15.2% (12.7-17.7) versus 19.6% (17.8-21.5). Incident hemodialysis patients had larger left ventricular mass and unfavorable aortic structure and function compared to long-term survivors, despite a lower CAC burden. Long-term survivors, despite normal ventricular mass and volumes, had signs of fibrosis or edema, given their significantly increased native T1 values.

Prognostic Role Of Coronary Artery Calcification In Lung Cancer Patients

Introduction: Few studies have investigated the prognostic role of coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected in the pre-radiotherapy (RT) chest computed tomography (CT) of lung cancer patients. Our aim was to assess whether the burden of CAC identifies patients with higher cardiovascular risk and predicts all- cause mortality. We retrospectively analysed non-gated CT chest scans performed for RT planning in a population of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Increased burden of coronary artery calcium from elevated blood pressure in low-risk young adults

Background and aimsThe relationship between blood pressure (BP) levels given in the new hypertension guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in low-risk young adults is unknown. We evaluated the association between the new BP categories and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in low-risk, young and middle-aged adults. MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study of 96,166 Koreans who underwent a health examination including cardiac tomography estimation of CAC scores in 2012–2017. BP categories were defined according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines. We used Poisson regression models with robust variance to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prevalent CAC >0. ResultsOverall, higher BP categories were associated with higher CAC scores in both young (aged 20–39) and middle-aged people (aged 40 years or more). After adjusting for possible confounders, including traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, the multivariable-adjusted PRs (95% CI) for prevalent CAC, comparing elevated BP and stage 1 and 2 hypertension to normal BP, were 1.27 (1.08–1.49), 1.45 (1.28–1.63), and 2.02 (1.67–2.43), respectively, among those aged 20–39 years and 1.25 (1.15–1.36), 1.29 (1.23–1.35), and 1.46 (1.36–1.57), respectively, among those aged ≥40 years. This association was also evident in those with a 10-year CVD risk of <10%. ConclusionsHigher BP categories were positively associated with prevalent CAC, and that association began in the elevated BP category, even in a young and low-risk population.

Greater progression of coronary artery calcification is associated with clinically relevant cognitive impairment in type 1 diabetes

Background and aimsWe assessed the predictive role of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in clinically relevant cognitive impairment in 148 middle-aged individuals with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) Study. MethodsBaseline CAC was measured in 1996–98 and repeated 4–8 years later. Per extensive neuropsychological testing in 2010–15, 28% (41/148) of participants met the study definition of clinically relevant cognitive impairment (two or more of 7 select test scores ≥1.5SD worse than demographically appropriate published norms). Logistic regression models with backward selection were constructed for statistical analysis. ResultsMean age and T1D duration at first CAC measure were 37 and 29 years, respectively. A greater burden of initial CAC was associated with cognitive impairment determined 14 years later. Compared to Agatston score = 0, odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 0<−100, 100<−300 and >300 were 1.4 (0.6, 3.6), 2.3 (0.6, 9.7), and 7.9 (1.6, 38.5), respectively. With both initial and progression of CAC in the multivariable model, backward selection retained only CAC progression, showing it was significantly associated with cognitive impairment (OR [95% CI]: 1.7 [1.1, 2.9]). In those with an initial CAC>0, CAC density was marginally, inversely, associated with cognitive impairment when controlling for CAC volume (OR [95%CI]: 0.3 (0.1, 1.2), p value = 0.078). ConclusionsGreater CAC burden was associated with clinically relevant cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults with childhood-onset T1D. CAC progression appears to be a more powerful predictor than initial calcification.

Abstract 16624: Association of Subclinical Atherosclerosis and Echocardiographic Indices of Cardiac Remodeling: The Framingham Study

Subclinical atherosclerosis, a marker of myocardial ischemia, may impact cardiac remodeling indices; yet this association has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that higher coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden is associated with alterations of cardiac remodeling in individuals free of congestive heart failure (CHF) and myocardial infarct (MI). We related CT-based CAC score to echocardiographic (echo) indices in 2,650 Framingham Study participants (mean age 52 yrs, 48% women; 39% had CAC&gt;0). We examined the following echo indices (log-transformed dependent variables): left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMi), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), E/e’, global longitudinal strain (GLS), left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF) and aortic root diameter (AoR). Using multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models to account for relatedness, we modeled CAC score (independent variable) as a log-transformed continuous [ln(CAC+1)] or categorical (0, 1-100, and ≥101) variable. Adjusting for standard risk factors, higher CAC burden was associated with higher LVMi, E/e’ and AoR, and with lower LAEF. Those with CAC score≥101 had lower LAEF and higher E/e’ and AoR compared to those with CAC=0 ( P &lt;0.05 for all, Figure). We observed effect modification by sex and age (interaction P &lt;0.05) for the association of CAC score with LAEF and with AoR, respectively. In stratified analysis, higher CAC values were associated with lower LAEF values only in women ( P &lt;0.003), and with higher AoR in older participants (&gt;median age of 58 yrs; P &lt;0.007). Conclusions: Subclinical atherosclerosis is associated with cardiac remodeling indices, consistent with the potential adverse impact of subclinical ischemia on myocardial and aortic remodeling in individuals free of CHF and MI. The prognostic significance of these associations warrant evaluation in future studies.

Subclinical Burden of Coronary Artery Calcium in Patients With Coarctation of the Aorta

Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is often performed in adults with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) for anatomic assessment. As this population ages, assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease burden is important. Thus, quantitative and qualitative coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were assessed for patients with CoA ≥16 years of age, who were seen at a referral center. CoA patients had either coronary CT angiography or chest CT with interpretable coronary information performed for clinical indications (follow-up, preoperative, or for symptoms) from 2004 to 2017. Qualitative CAC was determined based on low-dose CT and lung cancer screening protocols. Quantitative CAC scores were compared with an age- and gender-matched control cohort of patients chosen from an emergency department database of patients who received coronary CT angiography for chest pain evaluation. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease 10-year predicted risk scores were calculated for both cohorts. Out of 131 patients with CoA (mean age 46.1 ± 15.3 years), 22 patients (17%) had multivessel atherosclerotic disease on qualitative assessment. In the subgroup of patients ≥40 years, those with CoA were more likely to have a quantitative CAC score ≥400 compared with those without CoA (14% vs 4%, p = 0.02). Median atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score was 8% (interquartile range 2% to 12%) for CoA patients ≥40 years, and 5% (interquartile range 2% to 9%) for patient without CoA ≥40 years. In conclusion, we determined that CoA patients have subclinical atherosclerosis identifiable on CT in high rates when compared with patients without CoA. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should be assessed in these patients for prevention and treatment.

Discordance between 10-year cardiovascular risk estimates using the ACC/AHA 2013 estimator and coronary artery calcium in individuals from 5 racial/ethnic groups: Comparing MASALA and MESA

Background and aimsSouth Asian (SA) individuals are thought to represent a group that is at high-risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the performance of the Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) remains uncertain in SAs living in the US. We aimed to study the interplay between predicted 10-year ASCVD risk and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in SAs compared to other racial/ethnic groups. MethodsWe studied 536 SAs from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study, and 2073 Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), 1514 African Americans (AAs), 1254 Hispanics, and 671 Chinese Americans (CAs) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who were not currently on statins. We used logistic regression models to assess the association between race/ethnicity and CAC within each ASCVD risk stratum. ResultsSAs at low and at intermediate estimated ASCVD risk were more likely to have CAC = 0 compared to NHWs, while SAs at high risk had a similar CAC burden to NHWs. For example, intermediate-risk SAs had a 73% higher odds of CAC = 0 compared to NHWs (95% 1.00–2.99), while high-risk SAs were equally likely to have CAC = 0 (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.65–1.38) and CAC >100 (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.61–1.22). ConclusionsOur results suggest that the extent of ASCVD risk overestimation using the PCEs may be even greater among SAs considered at low and intermediate risk than among NHWs. Studies with incident ASCVD events are required to validate and/or recalibrate current ASCVD risk prediction tools in this group.

Unrecognized myocardial infarction detected on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: Association with coronary artery calcium score and cardiovascular risk prediction scores in asymptomatic Asian cohort

BackgroundTo investigate the association between unrecognized myocardial infarction (UMI) assessed with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) and cardiovascular risk prediction scores in asymptomatic Asian subjects.Materials and methodsTotal 872 asymptomatic subjects without prior cardiovascular event (male:female, 817:55; age, 53.88 ± 5.91) who underwent both CMR and CAC scoring CT were included. UMI were accessed and framingham risk score (FRS) and ASCVD (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) risk score by ACC/AHA were calculated.ResultsLate gadolinium enhancement indicating UMI was noted in 23 of 872 subjects (2.64%), but only three of them showed ECG abnormality (13.04%). Subjects with UMI showed higher CAC scores, FRS, and ASCVD scores than those without UMI (p < .001, p = .011 and p = .024, respectively). The prevalence of UMI differed significantly according to the CAC scores as follows: 1% in CAC = 0 (4/403), 1% in 1 ≤ CAC <100 (2/293), 6.1% in 100 ≤ CAC < 400 (7/114) and 14.5% in CAC ≥ 400 (9/62), respectively (p < .001). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis by using CAC score demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.816 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.780–0.848; p < .0001) for predicting UMI, which is superior to FRS [AUC, 0.712; 95% CI, 0.671–0.751; p = .009] and ASCVD risk score [AUC, 0.689; 95% CI, 0.648–0.729; p = .036].ConclusionThe prevalence of UMI increases with increasing burden of CAC and FRS. CAC score is a good discriminator for UMI, superior to FRS and ASCVD score, in asymptomatic population.

Differences in the association of total versus local coronary artery calcium with acute coronary syndrome and culprit lesions in patients with acute chest pain: The coronary calcium paradox

Background and aimsTotal coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, while local CAC may represent stable plaques. We determined differences in relationship of total CAC with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and local CAC with culprit lesions in patients with suspected ACS. MethodsWe performed computed tomography (CT) for CAC and CT angiography to assess the presence of significant stenosis and high-risk plaque (positive remodeling, low CT attenuation, napkin-ring sign, spotty calcium) in 37 patients with ACS and 223 controls. Total and segmental Agatston scores were measured. Culprit lesions were assessed in subjects with ACS. ResultsPatients (n = 260) with vs. without ACS had higher total CAC score (median 229, 25th-75th percentile 75–517 vs. 27, 25th-75th percentile 0–99, p<0.001), higher prevalence of significant stenosis (78% vs. 7%, p<0.001) and high-risk plaque (95% vs. 59%, p<0.001). In those with ACS, culprit (n = 41) vs. non-culprit (n = 200) lesions, had similar segmental CAC score (median 22, 25th-75th percentile 4–71 vs. 14, 25th-75th percentile 0–51; p=0.37), but higher prevalence of significant stenosis (81% vs. 11%, p<0.001) and high-risk plaque (76% vs. 51%, p=0.005). Significant stenosis (odds ratio 40.2, 95%CI 15.6–103.9, p<0.001) and high-risk plaque (odds ratio 3.4, 95%CI 1.3–9.1, p=0.02), but not segmental CAC score (odds ratio 1.0, 95%CI 1.0–1.0, p=0.47), were associated with culprit lesions of ACS. ConclusionsTotal CAC burden was associated with ACS but segmental CAC was not associated with culprit lesions. Our findings suggest that total but not local CAC is a marker of ACS risk and support the hypothesis that extensive local CAC is a marker of plaque stability.

Cardiac computed tomography in patients with symptomatic new-onset atrial fibrillation, rule-out acute coronary syndrome, but with intermediate pretest probability for coronary artery disease admitted to a chest pain unit

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) may be encountered coincidently in a large portion of patients. However, data on coronary artery calcium burden in such patients are lacking. Thus, we sought to determine the value of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) in patients presenting with new-onset AF associated with an intermediate pretest probability for CAD admitted to a chest pain unit (CPU).MethodsCalcium scores (CS) of 73 new-onset, symptomatic AF subjects without typical clinical, electrocardiographic, or laboratory signs of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted to our CPU were analyzed. In addition, results from computed tomography angiography (CTA) were related to coronary angiography findings whenever available.ResultsCalcium scores of zero were found in 25%. Median Agatston score was 77 (interquartile range: 1–270) with gender- and territory-specific dispersal. CS scores above average were present in about 50%, high (> 400)-to-very high (> 1000) CS scores were found in 22%. Overall percentile ranking showed a relative accordance to the reference percentile distribution. Additional CTA was performed in 47%, revealing stenoses in 12%. Coronary angiography was performed in 22% and resulted in coronary intervention or surgical revascularization in 7%. On univariate analysis, CS > 50th percentile failed to serve as an independent determinant of significant stenosis during catheterization.ConclusionsWithin a CPU setting, relevant CAD was excluded or confirmed in almost 50%, the latter with a high proportion of coronary angiographies and subsequent coronary interventions, underlining the diagnostic value of CCT in symptomatic, non-ACS, new-onset AF patients when admitted to a CPU.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Coronary Artery Calcium, and Cardiovascular Disease Events in a Cohort of Generally Healthy Middle-Age Men: Results From the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

A robust literature demonstrates that coronary artery calcification (CAC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Much less is known about the joint associations of CRF and CAC with CVD risk. In the setting of high CAC, high versus low CRF has been associated with decreased CVD events. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of continuous levels of CRF on CVD risk in the setting of increasing CAC burden. We studied 8425 men without clinical CVD who underwent preventive medicine examinations that included an objective measurement of CRF and CAC between 1998 and 2007. There were 383 CVD events during an average follow-up of 8.4 years. Parametric proportional hazards regression models based on a Gompertz mortality rule were used to estimate total CVD incidence rates at 70 years of age as well as hazard ratios for the included covariates. CVD events increased with increasing CAC and decreased with increasing CRF. Adjusting for CAC level (scores of 0, 1-99, 100-399, and ≥400), for each additional MET of fitness, there was an 11% lower risk for CVD events (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.94). When CAC and CRF were considered together, there was a strong association between continuous CRF and CVD incidence rates in all CAC groups. In a large cohort of generally healthy men, there is an attenuation of CVD risk at all CAC levels with higher CRF.

Does calcium burden impact culprit lesion morphology and clinical results? An ADAPT-DES IVUS substudy

BackgroundIncreasing coronary lesion calcification is thought to be associated with adverse percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and clinical outcomes. We investigated the effects of calcium burden on culprit lesion morphology and clinical events after intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI in the ADAPT-DES study. MethodsADAPT-DES was a prospective, multicenter registry of 8582 consecutive patients undergoing successful PCI using DES. A pre-specified virtual histology (VH)-IVUS substudy of 638 culprit lesions (638 patients) had both pre- and post-PCI VH-IVUS. We divided lesions into tertiles according to pre-PCI percent dense calcium volume (DCV%=dense calcium/plaque volume×100). ResultsCompared with low and intermediate DCV% tertiles, patients in the high DCV% tertile had the largest arc of superficial calcium, highest percentage of necrotic core volume, and smallest remodeling index; they were also more likely to have advanced lesion morphology such as attenuated plaque and VH thin-cap fibroatheromas. In the high DCV% tertile IVUS guidance was associated with a minimum stent area that was smaller than tertiles with less calcium (p=0.01), but acceptable range, and similar stent expansion (73.8±16.8% vs. 74.0±19.2% vs. 72.4±17.3%, p=0.62) after more frequent use of rotational atherectomy and higher maximum inflation pressure. There was no significant association between pre-PCI DCV% and 2-year target lesion revascularization or major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis). ConclusionsIncreasing coronary artery calcification burden was associated with more advanced, complex VH-IVUS lesion morphology, but not with adverse clinical outcomes, perhaps due to more aggressive PCI techniques that optimized stent expansion.

Impact of Coronary Calcification on Clinical Management in Patients With Acute Chest Pain.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) may impair diagnostic assessment of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). We determined whether CAC affects efficiency of coronary CTA in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This is a pooled analysis of ACRIN-PA (American College of Radiology Imaging Network-Pennsylvania) 4005 and the ROMICAT-II trial (Rule Out Myocardial Infarction/Ischemia Using Computer Assisted Tomography) comparing an initial coronary CTA strategy to standard of care in acute chest pain patients. In the CTA arms, we investigated appropriateness of downstream testing, cost, and diagnostic yield to identify patients with obstructive coronary artery disease on subsequent invasive coronary angiography across CAC score strata (Agatston score: 0, >0-10, >10-100, >100-400, >400). Out of 1234 patients (mean age 51±8.8 years), 80 (6.5%) had obstructive coronary artery disease (≥70% stenosis) and 68 (5.5%) had ACS. Prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease (1%-64%), ACS (1%-44%), downstream testing (4%-72%), and total (2337-8484 US$) and diagnostic cost (2310-6678 US$) increased across CAC strata (P<0.001). As the increase in testing and cost were lower than the increase of ACS rate in patients with CAC>400, cost to diagnose one ACS was lowest in this group (19 283 US$ versus 464 399 US$) as compared with patients without CAC. The diagnostic yield of invasive coronary angiography was highest in patients with CAC>400 (87% versus 38%). Downstream testing, total, and diagnostic cost increased with increasing CAC, but were found to be appropriate because obstructive coronary artery disease and ACS were more prevalent in patients with high CAC. In patients with acute chest pain undergoing coronary CTA, cost-efficient testing and excellent diagnostic yield can be achieved even with high CAC burden. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01084239 and NCT00933400.

Coronary artery calcium in breast cancer survivors after radiation therapy.

The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether breast cancer survivors after radiation therapy have a higher burden of coronary artery calcium as a potential surrogate of radiation-induced accelerated coronary artery disease. 333 patients were included. 54 patients underwent chest CT ≥ 6months after the start of radiation therapy (radiation therapy group), while 279 patients had a CT scan either prior to or without undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Coronary artery calcium was quantified from CT by applying a threshold-based automated algorithm. Mean age at diagnosis was similar (p = 0.771) between RT (57.4 ± 13.1 years) and NoRT (58.0 ± 11.9 years). Median time between radiation therapy and CT was 2years. The groups showed no significant differences in race, smoking history, cancer laterality, or cancer stage. 39 (72.2%) of RT patients had a coronary artery calcium score of 0, compared to 201 (72.0%) in patients without radiation therapy. Median coronary artery calcium burden for both groups was not significantly different (p = 0.982), nor when comparing patients who underwent left- versus right-sided radiation therapy (p = 0.453). When adjusting for the time between diagnosis and CT, radiation therapy patients had a significantly lower risk of a positive coronary artery calcium score. In conclusion, breast cancer survivors after radiation therapy are not more likely to show coronary artery calcium on follow-up CT imaging. Our results thus do not support radiation-induced accelerated coronary artery disease as an explanation for higher rates of heart disease in this group.

A comparative assessment of coronary artery calcification on chest CT scans of patients referred to a cardio-oncology clinic.

BackgroundThe presence and burden of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. In an effort to gain insight into the utility of CAC for coronary artery disease (CAD) screening in cancer patients with heart disease, we sought to determine the presence and burden of CAC detected on routine chest CT in patients referred to a cardio-oncology clinic, comparing them to a conventional cardiology clinic with the general population as controls.MethodsPatients from the cardio-oncology clinic, general cardiology clinic, and the general clinic population at Rush University Medical Center who had a chest CT as part of their previous treatment were identified. Each CT scan was evaluated for presence, extent, and severity of CAC by 3 independent readers.ResultsIn multivariate analysis, when compared with cardio-oncology clinic, CAC was more prevalent in the CT scans of cardiology patients (p = 0.04), but not the general clinic population (p = 0.5); CAC extent (p = 0.05) and severity (p = 0.05) was significantly higher in the cardiology patients but the extent (p = 0.05) and severity (p = 0.92) was similar in the general clinic population.ConclusionDespite being matched by age and sex, controlling for other major cardiovascular risk factors, patients referred to our cardio-oncology clinic had similar and less prevalent/severe CAC burden compared with the general population and conventional cardiology clinics respectively. Whether this translates to less utility of CAC for CAD screening, or to less overall coronary events in a cardio-oncology clinic, is of interest.

Glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria associations with coronary artery calcium among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

Decreased kidney function and greater albuminuria are associated with increased incidence and extent of coronary artery calcium (CAC). We investigated whether the associations between kidney function and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) with CAC differ by HIV serostatus. Using data from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, a prospective multicenter US study of men who have sex with men, we carried out a cross-sectional study comprised of 592 HIV-infected (HIV+) and 378 uninfected (HIV-) men who underwent noncontrast computed tomography to measure CAC. Logistic and linear regression models were used to determine whether HIV infection modified associations of estimated glomerular filtration rate and UPCR with the presence and extent of CAC, adjusting for age, race, and cardiovascular risk factors. Every 10 U decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate below 90 ml/min/1.73 m was significantly associated with 1.3-fold [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.51] higher odds of CAC presence and was similar by HIV serostatus (Pinteraction=0.37). Greater UPCR was associated with more extensive CAC, with a change in log CAC score of 0.32 (95% CI: 0.10-0.55) per 1% increase in UPCR. There was a strong trend for effect modification by HIV serostatus for this association [HIV-: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.26-1.25); HIV+: 0.22 (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.47), Pinteraction=0.06]. Greater CAC burden is apparent among individuals with early kidney disease, irrespective of HIV serostatus. Increased UPCR is associated with a greater extent of CAC with a trend for differences by HIV serostatus; a clearer proteinuria/CAC extent relationship was apparent among HIV- patients.

One-Year Outcomes After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Varying Quantities of Coronary Artery Calcium (from a 13-Year Registry)

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with poor angiographic results and higher rates of complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Limited data are available regarding the impact of angiographically evident CAC on long-term outcomes after primary PCI in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this single-center, registry-based retrospective cohort analysis, we analyzed 2,143 consecutive patients presenting with STEMI who underwent primary PCI within 12 hours of symptom onset. Patients were divided based on degree of CAC (determined by visual inspection of angiograms) as follows: (1) moderate-to-severe CAC (n= 306; 14.3%) and (2) minimal-to-none CAC (n= 1,837; 85.7%). The primary end point was all-cause mortality at 1-year after PCI. Patients with moderate-to-severe CAC were older, women, and had higher rates of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Moderate-to-severe CAC was associated with higher rates of anterior myocardial infarction, advanced Killip class, and poor final angiographic results. At 1-year follow-up, rates of all-cause mortality were higher in the moderate-to-severe CAC cohort than those in the minimal-to-none CAC cohort (8.5% vs 4.7%; p= 0.008). However, after accounting for major clinical and angiographic characteristics, moderate-to-severe CAC on presenting STEMI angiogram was no longer predictive of 1-year all-cause mortality. In conclusion, advanced CAC burden occurs in ∼15% of patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI and reflects a marker of adverse prognosis late into follow-up after PCI.

Abstract 12101: Family History of Coronary Heart Disease and Coronary Artery Calcium in South Asians and 4 Other Racial/Ethnic Groups in the US: The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Introduction: High coronary heart disease (CHD) rates among South Asians (SAs) are not fully explained by traditional risk factors. The association of a family history of CHD (FH) with subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC) in SAs is unknown. Hypothesis: FH is significantly and independently associated with CAC presence and burden in SAs and other ethnicities. Methods: We included all participants aged 45-84 years from two community-based populations: the MASALA study of SAs and the MESA study of Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs), African Americans (AAs), Chinese Americans (CAs), and Hispanics (HPs). All participants underwent baseline CAC scanning. FH was defined as a self-reported history of CHD in a first-degree relative. We used multivariable regression models to assess the association of FH with CAC (&gt;0 and &gt;100) and likelihood ratio tests to assess the incremental predictive ability of FH to identify CAC (&gt;0 and &gt;100) when added to the 2013 ACC/AHA ASCVD risk estimate in each racial/ethnic group. Results: Baseline demographics are shown in the table. NHWs, AAs, and HPs with a FH had a significantly higher proportion of CAC&gt;0 and CAC&gt;100 than those without FH. In unadjusted and multivariable analyses, FH was significantly associated with CAC burden in NHWs, AAs, and HPs, but not in CAs or SAs (Table). Similarly, FH significantly added to the ASCVD risk estimate in predicting prevalent CAC&gt;0 and CAC&gt;100 in NHWs, AAs, and HPs (p-values &lt;0.01 for all), but not in CAs (p-value 0.151 and 0.362) or in SAs (p-value 0.778 and 0.216, respectively). In a sensitivity analysis, FH was significantly associated with very high CAC&gt;400 in SAs, but not in CAs. Conclusion: FH was strongly and independently associated with CAC burden in NHWs, AAs, and HPs; this association was weaker and non-significant in CAs and SA in the US. Understanding the reasons behind these findings will require evaluation in larger populations of CAs and SAs with detailed ascertainment of FH.