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Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
04:40

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans

Published on: August 28, 2018

Prediction of coronary events with electron beam computed tomography

Y Arad1, L A Spadaro, K Goodman

  • 1Department of Preventive Cardiology, St Francis Hospital, Roslyn, New York 11576, USA. yadon@earthlink.net

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|October 12, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Electron beam computed tomographic (EBCT) scanning accurately predicts coronary artery disease events in asymptomatic adults. High calcium scores on EBCT scans indicate increased risk for coronary death, myocardial infarction, and revascularization procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) coronary artery calcium scores correlate with coronary artery disease severity.
  • Previous studies on EBCT's prognostic accuracy for coronary events in asymptomatic individuals have yielded conflicting results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prognostic accuracy of EBCT scanning of the coronary arteries for predicting cardiovascular events at three to four years.
  • To assess the predictive value of coronary artery calcium scores for future coronary events in asymptomatic adults.

Main Methods:

  • Asymptomatic individuals underwent coronary EBCT and completed follow-up evaluations, including medical history and cardiovascular event assessment.
  • Coronary events (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, revascularization) were confirmed without knowledge of scan results.

Main Results:

  • In 1,172 subjects followed for 3.6 years, 39 experienced coronary events.
  • Mean coronary artery calcium scores were significantly higher in subjects with events (764) versus those without (135) (p < 0.0001).
  • A coronary calcium score ≥160 showed high predictive value for all coronary events (OR=15.8) and for nonfatal myocardial infarction and death (OR=22.2), even after risk factor adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • EBCT of the coronary arteries is a valuable tool for predicting future coronary death and nonfatal myocardial infarction in asymptomatic adults.
  • Coronary artery calcium scoring via EBCT can identify individuals at high risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including the need for revascularization procedures.
Abstract

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