Low-Attenuation Coronary Plaque Volume and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Distinct Metabolic Phenotypes with...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) plays a key role in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to investigate the association among DM, low-attenuation plaque (LAP) volume, and cardiovascular outcomes across metabolic phenotypes in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

We included 530 patients who underwent CCTA. MetS was defined as the presence of a visceral adipose tissue area $$ 100 $$ in patients with DM (n = 58) or two or more MetS components excluding DM (n = 114). The remaining patients were categorised as non-MetS patients with DM (n = 52) or without DM (n = 306). A CCTA-based high-risk plaque was defined as a LAP volume of $$ 4%. The primary endpoint was the presence of a major cardiovascular event (MACE), which was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, and coronary revascularization.

The incidence of MACE was the highest in the non-MetS with DM group, followed hierarchically by the MetS with DM, MetS without DM, and non-MetS without DM groups. In the multivariable Cox hazard model analysis, DM as a predictor was associated with MACE independent of LAP volume $$ 4% (hazard ratio, 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-6.18; p = 0.02), although MetS did not function as an independent predictor. A LAP volume $$ 4% functioned as a predictor of MACE, independent of each metabolic phenotype or DM.

This study demonstrated that DM, rather than MetS, is a predictor of coronary events independent of high-risk plaque volume in patients who underwent CCTA.