High Coronary Artery Calcium Score Research Articles

Impact of Plaque Burden Versus Stenosis on Ischemic Events in Patients With Coronary Atherosclerosis

BackgroundPatients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, it remains unclear whether the high risk is due to high atherosclerotic disease burden or if presence of stenosis has independent predictive value. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate if obstructive CAD provides predictive value beyond its association with total calcified atherosclerotic plaque burden as assessed by coronary artery calcium (CAC). MethodsAmong 23,759 symptomatic patients from the Western Denmark Heart Registry who underwent diagnostic computed tomography angiography (CTA), we assessed the risk of major CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause death) stratified by CAC burden and number of vessels with obstructive disease. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 1,054 patients experienced a first major CVD event. The event rate increased stepwise with both higher CAC scores and number of vessels with obstructive disease (by CAC scores: 6.2 per 1,000 person-years (PY) for CAC = 0 to 42.3 per 1,000 PY for CAC >1,000; by number of vessels with obstructive disease: 6.1 per 1,000 PY for no CAD to 34.7 per 1,000 PY for 3-vessel disease). When stratified by 5 groups of CAC scores (0, 1 to 99, 100 to 399, 400 to 1,000, and >1,000), the presence of obstructive CAD was not associated with higher risk than presence of nonobstructive CAD. ConclusionsPlaque burden, not stenosis per se, is the main predictor of risk for CVD events and death. Thus, patients with a comparable calcified atherosclerosis burden generally carry a similar risk for CVD events regardless of whether they have nonobstructive or obstructive CAD.

The coronary artery calcium score correlates with left atrial low-voltage area: Sex differences.

In patients with coronary artery disease, a high coronary artery calcium score (CACS) correlates with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the association between left atrial (LA) remodeling progression and coronary arteriosclerosis is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between LA remodeling progression and the CACS. This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients with AF (paroxysmal AF, n = 94) who underwent catheter ablation. Voltage mapping for the left atrium and coronary computed tomography for CACS calculations were performed. The ratio of the LA low-voltage area (LA-LVA), defined by values less than 0.5 mV divided by the total LA surface without pulmonary veins, was calculated. Patients with LA-LVA (<0.5 mV) >5% and ≤5% were classified as the LVA (n = 30) and non-LVA (n = 118) groups, respectively. Patient characteristics and CACS values were compared between the two groups. LA volume, age, CHA2 DS2 VASc score, and percentage of female patients were significantly higher, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was lower in the LVA group than in the non-LVA group. The CACS was significantly higher in the LVA group (248.4 vs. 13.2; p = .001). Multivariate analysis identified the LA volume index and CACS as independent predictors of LA-LVA (<0.5 mV) greater than 5%. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting LA-LVA (<0.5 mV)greater than 5% with CACS were 0.695 in the entire population, 0.782 in men, and 0.587 in women. Progression of LA remodeling and coronary artery calcification may occur in parallel. A high CACS may indicate advanced LA remodeling, especially in men.

Abstract 16407: Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acids Predict Cardiovascular Events Stratified by Coronary Artery Calcium

Background: In REDUCE-IT, high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was beneficial in high-risk patients without clinical CVD independent of triglyceride levels. Whether the benefit of higher plasma EPA extends to those without subclinical CVD is unclear. Hypothesis: In those without clinical CVD, plasma omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) levels predict long-term CVD events, and subclinical CVD measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC) modifies the effect such that individuals with the highest CAC attain the greatest benefit from higher O3FA. Methods: We examined 6568 MESA participants with plasma EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels measured at baseline and classified them by tertiles of EPA and DHA and by CAC category (0, 1-99, ≥100). Our outcome was time to CVD event (myocardial infarction, angina, cardiac arrest, stroke, CVD death). Cox regression models were used to assess the associations between log-transformed EPA and DHA and CVD events adjusted for demographic factors, CVD risk factors, and medication use. Results: Mean age was 62.1±10.2 and 52.9% were females. Higher log(EPA) (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.93; P = 0.002) and log(DHA) (aHR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96; P = 0.019) were independently associated with fewer CVD events. The difference in absolute CVD event rates between the lowest and highest EPA tertile increased at higher CAC levels (Figure). The adjusted HR for highest compared to lowest EPA tertile within CAC 0 was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.72-1.45), CAC 1-99 was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.51-0.98), and CAC≥100 was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.52-0.83). A similar association was seen in tertiles of DHA by CAC category. These findings were consistent by sex and race category and after adjusting for O3FA supplement use. Conclusion: In an ethnically diverse population free of clinical CVD at baseline, higher plasma O3FA levels were associated with fewer CVD events. The absolute reduction in CVD events with higher O3FA levels was more apparent at higher CAC scores.

Male Sexual Health and Cardiovascular Disease

To provide an updated review on the association of erectile dysfunction (ED), male hypogonadism, and testosterone therapy with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Direct evidence links male sexual dysfunction to CVD, including higher coronary artery calcium scores, carotid narrowing, and more severe coronary artery disease. While questions about the role of ED in predicting cardiovascular risk independent of shared comorbidities have lingered, the most recent analyses favor a diagnosis of ED as a strong independent predictor of adverse cardiac events. ED has now been incorporated into the widely used QRISK3 calculator for cardiovascular risk assessment and may influence clinical decision-making about primary prevention interventions. Controversy also surrounds changes in testosterone labeling that highlight potential cardiovascular risks. While continuing to remain contentious, the most extensive meta-analyses conclude that low endogenous testosterone is independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk and that testosterone therapy does not appear to carry increased risk in most populations. The assessment of ED is an effective tool in predicting cardiovascular risk and may influence clinical decision-making with regard to primary prevention interventions. The associations between endogenous testosterone levels, testosterone therapy, and cardiovascular risk remain controversial.

Downstream testing after an halted coronary CT angiography due to high coronary artery calcium score

Abstract Background and aim In many centers, coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is performed immediately before coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in order to exclude heavy calcification that could hamper test performance. When high CACS values are found, CCTA is usually aborted and other tests suggested. However, there are no recommendations on which test to pursue, and little data on their diagnostic yield in this setting. The aim of this study was to assess the type and results of downstream testing among patients whose CCTA study was halted due to high CACS. Methods Single-centre retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing CCTA for suspected obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). A CACS threshold of &amp;gt;400 was generally used to cancel CCTA. Downstream testing and its results were assessed using electronic medical records. A group of consecutive patients with CACS &amp;lt;400 who underwent CCTA was used for comparison. Results Of the 795 patients who performed CCTA for suspected CAD, 86 (10.8%), had their test halted due to high CACS (57 men, mean age 71±11 years). In this subgroup, the median pre-test probability for CAD was 27% (interquartile range 25) and the median CACS was 983 (interquartile range 930). Compared to patients who underwent CCTA, those who saw their tests cancelled were older, more frequently male, and had higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and higher pre-test probability for CAD. Patient's downstream testing is illustrated in Figure. From the 86 patients enrolled, 12 are currently waiting for downstream tests and were excluded from further analysis. Overall, 35 patients ended up performing invasive coronary angiography (ICA, 47.3%) of whom 19 (54.3%) had significant CAD. Among those who underwent non-invasive testing (N=19, 25.7%), 10 (52.6%) had significant ischemia and 4 (21%) underwent additional testing with ICA. In 24 patients (32.4%), no downstream testing was pursued. Finally, 17 (22.3%) patients underwent coronary revascularization, either percutaneous (N=10, 13.5%) or surgical (N=7, 10.8%). Conclusion Invasive coronary angiography is the most frequently used downstream test when CCTA is halted due to high CACS values, and shows significant CAD in roughly half of the cases. Considering the high prevalence of significant CAD, direct referral for ICA (with the possibility of invasive functional testing) seems a reasonable approach. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Value of Coronary Artery Calcium Scanning in Association With the Net Benefit of Aspirin in Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Higher coronary artery calcium (CAC) identifies individuals at increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Whether it can also identify individuals likely to derive net benefit from aspirin therapy is unclear. To examine the association between CAC, bleeding, and ASCVD and explore the net estimated effect of aspirin at different CAC thresholds. Prospective population-based cohort study of Dallas Heart Study participants, free from ASCVD and not taking aspirin at baseline. Data were analyzed between February 1, 2020, and July 15, 2020. Coronary artery calcium score in the following categories: 0, 1-99, and 100 or higher. Major bleeding and ASCVD events were identified from International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Ninth Revision codes. Meta-analysis-derived aspirin effect estimates were applied to observed ASCVD and bleeding rates to model the net effect of aspirin at different CAC thresholds. A total of 2191 participants (mean [SD], age 44 [9.1] years, 1247 women [57%], and 1039 black individuals [47%]) had 116 major bleeding and 123 ASCVD events over a median follow-up of 12.2 years. Higher CAC categories (CAC 1-99 and ≥100 vs CAC 0) were associated with both ASCVD and bleeding events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4; HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.3; HR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.8-8.2; P < .001; HR, 5.3; 95% CI, 3.6-7.9; P < .001), but the association between CAC and bleeding was attenuated after multivariable adjustment. Applying meta-analysis estimates, irrespective of CAC, aspirin use was estimated to result in net harm in individuals at low (<5%) and intermediate (5%-20%) 10-year ASCVD risk and net benefit in those at high (≥20%) ASCVD risk. Among individuals at lower bleeding risk, a CAC score of at least 100 identified individuals who would experience net benefit, but only in those at borderline or higher (≥5%) 10-year ASCVD risk. In individuals at higher bleeding risk, there would be net harm from aspirin irrespective of CAC and ASCVD risk. Higher CAC is associated with both ASCVD and bleeding events, with a stronger association with ASCVD. A high CAC score identifies individuals estimated to derive net benefit from primary prevention aspirin therapy from those who would not, but only in the setting of lower bleeding risk and estimated ASCVD risk that is not low.

The association of coronary artery calcium score with glomerular filtration rate and the influence of sex, age, blood pressure, and cholesterol

Chronic kidney disease puts an individual at a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death. Coronary artery calcium score reflects the accumulation of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries and a higher coronary artery calcium score is associated with lower survival rates. It is unclear if control of conventional risk factors is enough to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate if the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and coronary artery calcium score in the Ukrainian population differs by sex, age, blood pressure, and total cholesterol.This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of patients who underwent measurement of coronary artery calcium score at Dnipropetrovsk Mechnikov Regional Hospital, Dnipro, Ukraine. Inclusion criteria: age &gt;40 years old, available data about coronary artery calcium score and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Exclusion criteria: the presence of known cardiovascular disease, diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt;30 ml/min and extreme coronary artery calcification (coronary artery calcium score &gt;1500 Agatston units). 137 patients (54 males and 83 females), median age 59.0 [54.0;67.0] years were enrolled in the study. In the patients with lower eGFR there was non-significantly higher coronary artery calcium score (p=0.07). In males with eGFR ≥90 ml/min, 60-89 ml/min, and 30-59 ml/min coronary artery calcium score didn’t differ significantly, while in females a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with a higher coronary artery calcium score. A lower estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly associated with a higher coronary artery calcium score in the patients with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (p=0.04), but not in patients with diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg. In the patients with total cholesterol &lt;5.0 mmol/l and ≥5.0 mmol/l coronary artery calcium score tended to be higher in the patients with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. A lower estimated glomerular filtration rate in our study was associated with a higher coronary artery calcium score in females, patients aged ≥55 years old and in patients with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg.

The crosstalk between bone metabolism, lncRNAs, microRNAs and mRNAs in coronary artery calcification

The association between Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) and osteoporosis has been reported but not fully understood. Therefore, using an original bioinformatic framework we analyzed transcriptomic profiles of 20 elderly women with high CAC score and 31 age- and sex-matching controls from São Paulo Ageing & Health study (SPAH). We integrated differentially expressed microRNA (miRNA) and long-noncoding RNA (lncRNA) interactions with coding genes associated with CAC, in the context of bone-metabolism genes mined from literature. Top non-coding regulators of bone metabolism in CAC included miRNA 497-5p/195 and 106a-5p, and lncRNA FAM197Y7. Top non-coding RNAs revealed significant interplay between genes regulating bone metabolism, vascularization-related processes, chromatin organization, prostaglandin and calcium co-signaling. Prostaglandin E2 receptor 3 (PTGER3), Fibroblasts Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1), and One Cut Homeobox 2 (ONECUT2) were identified as the most susceptible to regulation by the top non-coding RNAs. This study provides a flexible transcriptomic framework including non-coding regulation for biomarker-related studies.

Prediction of Coronary Artery Calcium Score Using Machine Learning in a Healthy Population.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a reliable predictor for future cardiovascular disease risk. Although deep learning studies using computed tomography (CT) images to predict CACS have been reported, no study has assessed the feasibility of machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict the CACS using clinical variables in a healthy general population. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether ML algorithms other than binary logistic regression (BLR) could predict high CACS in a healthy population with general health examination data. Methods: This retrospective observational study included participants who had regular health screening including coronary CT angiography. High CACS was defined by the Agatston score ≥ 100. Univariable and multivariable BLR was performed to assess predictors for high CACS in the entire dataset. When performing ML prediction for high CACS, the dataset was randomly divided into a training and test dataset with a 7:3 ratio. BLR, catboost, and xgboost algorithms with 5-fold cross-validation and grid search technique were used to find the best performing classifier. Performance comparison of each ML algorithm was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Results: A total of 2133 participants were included in the final analysis. Mean age and proportion of male sex were 55.4 ± 11.3 years and 1483 (69.5%), respectively. In multivariable BLR analysis, age (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10–1.15, p < 0.001), male sex (OR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.57–5.38, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00–1.03, p = 0.019), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99–1.00, p = 0.047) were significant predictors for high CACS. Performance in predicting high CACS of xgboost was AUROC of 0.823, followed by catboost (0.750) and BLR (0.585). The comparison of AUROC between xgboost and BLR was significant (p for AUROC comparison < 0.001). Conclusions: Xgboost ML algorithm was found to be a more reliable predictor of CACS in healthy participants compared to the BLR algorithm. ML algorithms may be useful for predicting CACS with only laboratory data in healthy participants.

Thickness of epicardial and pericoronary adipose tissue measured using 128-slice MSCT as predictors for risk of significant coronary artery diseases

AimDetermination the relationship between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and pericoronary adipose tissue thickness (PATT) and the risk of significant coronary artery diseases (CAD) using the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).Materials and methodsThe study group consisted of 80 patients. The risk of significant CAD was estimated based on CACS. Adipose tissue thickness was measured based on multiplanar reformation (MPR), left ventricle short axis and mid-chamber level. EATT in the middle of the length of the right ventricular free wall, PATT around the left anterior descending (LAD), around the left circumflex (LCX) and around the right coronary artery in the posterior interventricular sulcus (RCA).ResultsThe median (IQR) values of CACS and EATT were 12.00 (97.90) and 8.65 (3.90) mm. It was found that in the subgroup CACS = 0 statistically significantly lower than in the subgroup CACS > 0 were mean values EATT and PATT RCA. Based on the regression analysis, it was demonstrated that higher CACS is associated with higher EATT, independent of older age and higher BMI. On the basis the ROC curve analysis, the highest prediction sensitivity of 98.4% was demonstrated for EATT ≥ 16.7 mm as a predictor of high risk of significant CAD and the highest specificity of 61.5% for the criterion EATT ≤ 8.7 mm as a predictor of practically no risk of significant CAD.ConclusionThere is a positive relationship between the risk of a significant CAD estimated based on the coronary artery calcium score and the epicardial adipose tissue thickness.

Prevalence of noncalcified plaques and coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary calcium scores of zero.

ObjectivesA higher coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is associated with increased coronary artery plaque burden resulting in increased cardiovascular risk. Conversely, the absence of calcium indicates a low risk of cardiovascular events. However, coronary plaque calcification is a late manifestation of atherosclerosis; earlier stages of atherosclerosis present noncalcified plaques (NCPs) A recent study demonstrated that the absence of coronary artery calcification deposit does not preclude obstructive stenosis or the need for revascularization in patients with a high suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NCP and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in symptomatic patients in our local population who were referred for coronary artery computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) with 0 CACS.MethodsA total of 299 patients who had undergone CACS and CCTA, and had scored zero for coronary artery calcium. Patients included had clinically appropriate indications, mainly chest pain with variable severity with no history of CAD. The presence of CAD risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and smoking, was obtained from reviewing patient charts. The CCTA analysis was performed to evaluate for coronary artery stenosis and the presence of NCP. The severity of stenosis was quantified by visual estimation and divided into 0% stenosis, 1–25% stenosis, 26–50% stenosis, and more than 50% stenosis.ResultsThe prevalence of NCP was 6.4% (19 of the 299). Among the 19 patients with NCP, 52.6% had no identified coronary artery stenosis, 26.3% had less than 25%, and 21% had stenosis between 25 and 50%. None had stenosis greater than 50%. There was a strong association between male sex (P = 0.001), smoking (P = 0.0.004), hypertension, and NCP (P = 0.042), but no association was found between NCP and age or diabetesConclusionsIn patients with a high clinical suspicion of CAD, the absence of coronary artery calcification does not rule out CAD; up to 6.4% of these patients have early CAD as evidenced by NCP detected by CCTA, and none have more than 50% stenosis, However, future prognostic and long-term follow-up studies are needed to determine prognostic value of NCP in patients with 0 CACS.

Correlation of Echo Cardiac Calcification Score with Coronary Calcium Score at Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

Background: Echocardiography-derived calcium score (ECS) was able to predict the presence of extensive coronary calcium and obstructive Coronary artery disease(CAD), assessed using Multi slice CT (MSCT) coronary angiography. Furthermore, significant linear trends were observed between ECS and extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and number of calcified coronary artery lesions. Objective: To correlate an echocardiography-derived calcium score (ECS), obtained using coronary artery calcium Score (CACS) and the presence of obstructive CAD. Patients and Methods: The study comprised 100 patients (males and females) presented with symptoms suspected of stable CAD. All cases were recruited from the outpatient clinic in Agouza police Hospital in Cairo and Islamic center of Al-Azhar University during a period of fourteen months from 1/11/2018 to 30/12/2019. Results: Linear regression analysis identified that the most independent variables that can predict AVC were CAC score, dyslipidemia, and the most independent variable that can predict obstructive coronary artery disease was the presence of coronary artery calcification and higher CAC score. ROC curve analysis was used to test the predictive value of aortic valve calcification (AVC), Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) and CAC scores for the presence or absence of obstructive CAD. This analysis showed that AVC and MAC scores were inferior to CAC score which was found to have the highest predictive value evidenced by an area under the curve of 0.763 (95%CI: 0.781, 0.913). MAC score was inferior to AVC score which was found to have the highest predictive value evidenced by an area under the curve of 0.815 (95%CI: 0.758, 0.879). Conclusion: The echocardiographic calcium scores specifically the MVC and AVC was correlated to be CAC. ECS can predict the CAC score. ECS can predict the presence or absence CAD.

Case Report: Acute Stroke Due to Cerebrovascular Atherosclerosis in Chinese-american Woman with Extremely High Level of High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Equal Zero

Case Report: Acute Stroke Due to Cerebrovascular Atherosclerosis in Chinese-american Woman with Extremely High Level of High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Equal Zero

Coronary Artery Calcium Score To Lesion Ratio: A Novel Method To Predict Coronary CT Angiogram Interpretability

Introduction: Evaluation of coronary artery disease by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has been clinically avoided in the patients with high coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores because of interpretability concerns leading to more invasive and expensive testing. The purpose of this study was to discover a more reliable indicator of CCTA interpretability through the utilization of a CAC score-to-lesion ratio cutoff point regardless of CAC score.

8-OR: Coronary Calcium Scoring to Select Asymptomatic Diabetic Patients with Coronary Artery Stenoses Suitable for Revascularization

The aim of the study was to test various criteria to select asymptomatic patients with diabetes to be screened for silent myocardial ischemia (SMI). This screening might improve cardiovascular prognosis through identification of coronary stenoses (CS) suitable for revascularization. Clinical/biological/imaging criteria including coronary artery calcium (CAC) score were considered. We selected 416 asymptomatic patients with diabetes and very high cardiovascular risk according to ESC-EASD-2019 criteria (either 3 risk factors (RFs) or diabetes duration&amp;gt;20 years and one RF or peripheral vascular disease or target organ damage). These patients had had a stress myocardial scintigraphy to detect SMI, with a coronary angiography in case of SMI. A CAC score &amp;gt;100UA was present in 182 patients (43.7%). SMI was present in 40 patients (9.6%); 28 of them had a coronary angiography. CS were found in 15 out of these 28 patients (54%) and 11/15 of them had a revascularization procedure (73.5%). We tested the performances of various criteria to identify patients with SMI and CS. Performing a scintigraphy (i) only in patients with peripheral artery disease and/or a severe nephropathy (n=141) would have led to miss 6 patients with CS suitable for revascularization; (ii) in all patients but those who had only 3 RFs (n=283) would have led to miss 2 of them and (iii) only in patients with peripheral vascular disease and/or a severe nephropathy and if not in those with a CAC score &amp;gt;100 (n=239) would have led to miss none of them. The algorithm which requires CAC score measurement (iii) was the most cost-effective. Among the asymptomatic diabetic patients fulfilling the very high cardiovascular risk criteria according to ESC-EASD-2019 guidelines, screening for SMI and CS only those with peripheral artery disease or severe nephropathy or a high CAC score (&amp;gt; 100AU) appears to be a good compromise, which allows not to miss patients with CS suitable for revascularization, at a controlled cost. Disclosure N. Berkane: None. E. Cosson: None. S. Pinto: None. T. Ciunganu: None. P. Valensi: None.

Associations Among Self-reported Physical Activity, Coronary Artery Calcium Scores, and Mortality Risk in Older Adults.

ObjectiveTo assess whether self-reported physical activity during daily life reduces the mortality risk associated with atherosclerotic burden, as measured by coronary artery calcium (CAC) scanning.MethodsWe assessed 2318 patients aged 65 to 84 years who underwent CAC scanning from August 31, 1998, through November 16, 2016, and had daily life physical activity assessed by a single-item question that was used to divide patients by low, moderate, and high physical activity levels. Patients were followed for a mean ± SD of 10.6±4.9 years for the occurrence of all-cause mortality.ResultsThe results indicated a graded relationship between the magnitude of CAC abnormality and mortality and an inverse relationship between physical activity and mortality. Of patients with low CAC scores (0-99), those with low, moderate, and high physical activity levels had similarly low mortality rates. Of patients with high CAC scores (≥400), however, there was a stepwise increase in mortality with decreasing physical activity. Patients with CAC scores of 400 or greater but reporting high physical activity had a mortality rate that was similar vs that observed in patients with CAC scores of only 0 to 99 and low physical activity (19.9 vs 16.3 per 1000 person-years; P=.60).ConclusionCombining CAC score with self-reported physical activity level provides a synergistic means for predicting clinical risk in older patients, with high physical activity level substantially attenuating the mortality risk associated with elevated CAC scores. Moreover, the useful prognostic information afforded by just a single-item physical activity questionnaire supports current initiatives to make such assessments into a “fifth vital sign.”

2014-P: Obesity Phenotypes and Subclinical Atherosclerosis among Whites, African Americans, and South Asians: The Genestar and Masala Studies

Background: Whether obesity in the absence of cardiometabolic abnormalities increases the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis remains debatable. Methods: We compared coronary artery calcium (CAC) across obesity phenotypes in 505 Whites and 306 African Americans (AAs) from the Genetic Study of Aspirin Responsiveness (GeneSTAR); and 875 South Asians (SAs) from MASALA (Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America). Using BMI and the International Harmonized Definition of metabolic syndrome, participants were categorized as Metabolically Healthy Non-Obese (MHNO), Metabolically Healthy Obese (MHO), Metabolically Unhealthy Non-Obese (MUNO), and Metabolically Unhealthy Obese (MUO). Results: The prevalence of any detectable CAC was similar in MHNO versus MHO among all ethnic groups (Whites 35 versus 30%, AAs 30 versus 23%, SAs 29 versus 26%; respectively, all p&amp;gt;0.05). In contrast, the prevalence of CAC was the highest in the MUNO and MUO groups in all ethnic groups. After adjusting for potential confounders; the odds of CAC in MUNO and MUO compared to MHNO were significantly higher in Whites and SAs; but not in AAs. Conclusion: Metabolically unhealthy Whites, AAs, and SAs had higher CAC scores regardless of obesity status suggesting that metabolic health is more closely associated with atherosclerosis than obesity alone especially in Whites and SAs. Disclosure M. Al-Sofiani: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. D. Vaidya: None. A.M. Kanaya: None. L. Yanek: None. M. Mongraw-Chaffin: None. N.R. Kandula: None. L. Becker: None. B.G. Kral: None. D. Becker: None. N.M. Maruthur: Other Relationship; Self; Johns Hopkins HealthCare Solutions. C. Lee: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Funding National Institutes of Health (R01HL093009, K24HL112827); National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR024131, M01-RR000052); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (U01HL72518)

Association of subclinical atherosclerosis with echocardiographic indices of cardiac remodeling: The Framingham Study.

BackgroundIt is well established that coronary artery disease progresses along with myocardial disease. However, data on the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and echocardiographic variables are lacking.Methods and resultsAmong 2,650 Framingham Study participants (mean age 51 yrs, 48% women; 40% with CAC>0), we related CT-based CAC score to left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMi), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), E/e’, global longitudinal strain (GLS), left atrial emptying fraction (LAEF), and aortic root diameter (AoR), using multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models. CAC score (independent variable) was used as log-transformed continuous [ln(CAC+1)] and as a categorical (0, 1–100, and ≥101) variable. Adjusting for standard risk factors, higher CAC score was associated with higher LVMi and AoR (βLVMI per 1-SD increase 0.012, βAoR 0.008; P<0.05, for both). Participants with 1≤CAC≤100 and those with CAC≥101 had higher AoR (βAoR 0.013 and 0.020, respectively, P = 0.01) than those with CAC = 0. CAC score was not significantly associated with LVEF, E/e’, GLS or LAEF. Age modified the association of CAC score with AoR; higher CAC scores were associated with larger AoR more strongly in older (>58 years; βAoR0.0042;P<0.007) than in younger (≤58 years) participants (βAoR0.0027;P<0.03).ConclusionsWe observed that subclinical atherosclerosis was associated with ventricular and aortic remodeling. The prognostic significance of these associations warrants evaluation in additional mechanistic studies.

Predicting High Coronary Artery Calcium Score From Retinal Fundus Images With Deep Learning Algorithms.

PurposeTo evaluate high accumulation of coronary artery calcium (CAC) from retinal fundus images with deep learning technologies as an inexpensive and radiation-free screening method.MethodsIndividuals who underwent bilateral retinal fundus imaging and CAC score (CACS) evaluation from coronary computed tomography scans on the same day were identified. With this database, performances of deep learning algorithms (inception-v3) to distinguish high CACS from CACS of 0 were evaluated at various thresholds for high CACS. Vessel-inpainted and fovea-inpainted images were also used as input to investigate areas of interest in determining CACS.ResultsA total of 44,184 images from 20,130 individuals were included. A deep learning algorithm for discrimination of no CAC from CACS >100 achieved area under receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 82.3% (79.5%–85.0%) and 83.2% (80.2%–86.3%) using unilateral and bilateral fundus images, respectively, under a 5-fold cross validation setting. AUROC increased as the criterion for high CACS was increased, showing a plateau at 100 and losing significant improvement thereafter. AUROC decreased when fovea was inpainted and decreased further when vessels were inpainted, whereas AUROC increased when bilateral images were used as input.ConclusionsVisual patterns of retinal fundus images in subjects with CACS > 100 could be recognized by deep learning algorithms compared with those with no CAC. Exploiting bilateral images improves discrimination performance, and ablation studies removing retinal vasculature or fovea suggest that recognizable patterns reside mainly in these areas.Translational RelevanceRetinal fundus images can be used by deep learning algorithms for prediction of high CACS.

Matrix Gla protein is an independent predictor of both intimal and medial vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification (VC) and requires carboxylation by vitamin K to exert calcification inhibition. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergo early vascular aging often involving extensive VC. The present cross-sectional study investigated the association between circulating dp-ucMGP levels, MGP expression in vascular tissue and MGP polymorphisms. In 141 CKD stage 5 patients, CAC score was significantly increased in the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP (p = 0.002), and a high medial VC score was associated with elevated dp-ucMGP levels. MGP vascular expression was associated with increased circulating dp-ucMGP and CAC scores. MGP SNP analysis revealed that patients homozygous for the C allele of the rs1800801 variant had a higher CAC score (median 15 [range 0–1312]) compared to patients carrying a T allele (median 0 [range 0–966] AU). These results indicate that plasma levels of dp-ucMGP are an independent predictor of increased VC in CKD5 patients and correlate with both higher CAC scores and degree of medial calcification. Additionally, high vascular expression of MGP was associated with higher CAC scores and plasma dp-ucMGP levels. Taken together, our results support that MGP is involved in the pathogenesis of VC.