Authors: Kwang Nam Jin Eun Ju Chun ChangHoon Lee Jeong A Kim Min Su Lee Sang Il Choi
Publish Date: 2012/10/31
Volume: 28, Issue: 2, Pages: 93-100
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics and predictors of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in young adults The study also evaluated predictors of cardiac events We retrospectively enrolled 914 selfreferred asymptomatic subjects under the age of 45 552 men 362 women who had undergone both coronary CT angiography CCTA and coronary artery calcium scoring Two radiologists analyzed plaque composition and degree of stenosis For all subjects we evaluated clinical risk factors and investigated cardiac events Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was found in 86 subjects 94 Among them 64 subjects 744 had a single coronary artery plaque On analysis of individual segments the most common type of plaque was noncalcified plaque NCP 58 which was found in 63 subjects 69 Significant coronary artery stenosis was found in 9 subjects 01 Predictors of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis were age male gender hypertension and diabetes mellitus Male gender diabetes mellitus and amount of smoking were independent predictors of NCP High low density lipoprotein cholesterol and calcium scores were also significant predictors of stenosis Myocardial infarction developed in 1 subject unstable angina in 2 stable angina in 1 and death in 1 245 cardiac events per 1000 personyears of followup Multivariate analysis revealed hazard ratios of 22 for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis 4917 for NCP and 10558 for significant stenosis The prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic young adults is not negligible CCTA has the potential to enhance risk stratification and prediction for coronary artery disease in asymptomatic young adults
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