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Association between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery disease assessed using CAD-RADS classification: a
Loredana Elisabeta Popa1,2,3, Bianca Petresc4, Cristina Cătană5
1Department of Radiology, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, Romania.
Insights
Cardiovascular risk factors like male sex, age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking are significantly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Romania. This association was assessed using the Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) score.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) is a standardized method for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD) using coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
- Understanding the association between cardiovascular risk factors and CAD severity is crucial for early detection and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk factors and the CAD-RADS score in the Romanian population.
- To identify specific risk factors independently associated with obstructive coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study included 475 patients who underwent CCTA.
- Patients were assessed for cardiovascular risk factors and categorized based on CAD-RADS scores (0-2 for <50% stenosis, ≥3 for ≥50% stenosis).
- Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine associations.
Main Results:
- Univariate analysis revealed positive associations between higher CAD-RADS scores (≥3) and male gender, age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and diabetes mellitus.
- Multivariable analysis confirmed that male sex, age, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking were independently associated with obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis).
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates a significant link between common cardiovascular risk factors and increased coronary atherosclerotic burden in the Romanian population.
- The findings highlight the importance of managing these risk factors to mitigate the risk of obstructive CAD.
Objectives:
This study aimed to evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk factors and Coronary Artery Disease-Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) score in the Romanian population. CAD-RADS is a new, standardised method to assess coronary artery disease (CAD) using coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
Design:
A cross-sectional observational, patient-based study.
Setting:
Referred imaging centre for CAD in Transylvania, Romania.
Participants:
We retrospectively reviewed 674 patients who underwent CCTA between January 2017 and August 2018. The exclusion criteria included: previously known CAD, defined as prior myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (n=91), cardiac CT for other than evaluation of possible CAD (n=85), significant arrhythmias compromising imaging quality (n=23). Finally, 475 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria.
Methods:
Demographical, clinical and CCTA characteristics of the patients were obtained. CAD was evaluated using CAD-RADS score. Obstructive CAD was defined as ≥50% stenosis of ≥1 coronary segment on CCTA.
Results:
We evaluated the association between risk factors and CAD-RADS score in univariate and multivariable analysis. We divided the patients into two groups according to the CAD-RADS system: group 1: CAD-RADS score between 0 and 2 (stenosis <50%) and group 2: CAD-RADS score ≥3 (stenosis ≥50%). On univariate analysis, male gender, age, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking and diabetes mellitus were positively associated with a CAD-RADS score ≥3. The multivariate analysis showed that male sex, age, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and smoking were independently associated with obstructive CAD.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated a significant association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and a higher coronary atherosclerotic burden assessed using CAD-RADS system in the Romanian population.
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