Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2948902 Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2011 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

ObjectivesWe examined mortality risk in relation to extent and composition of nonobstructive plaques by 64-detector row coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA).BackgroundThe prognostic significance of nonobstructive coronary artery plaques by CCTA is poorly understood.MethodsWe prospectively evaluated consecutive adults from 2 centers undergoing 64-detector row CCTA without prior documented coronary artery disease (CAD) and without obstructive (≥50%) CAD by CCTA. Luminal diameter stenosis severity was classified for each segment as none (0%) or mild (1% to 49%), and plaque composition was classified as noncalcified, calcified, or mixed.ResultsDuring 3.1 ± 0.5 years, 54 intermediate-term (≥90 days) deaths occurred among 2,583 patients (2.09%), with 4 early (<90 days) deaths. Adjusted for CAD risk factors, the presence of any nonobstructive plaque was associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.98, 95% confidence Interval [CI]: 1.06 to 3.69, p = 0.03), with the highest risk among those exhibiting nonobstructive CAD in 3 epicardial vessels (HR: 4.75, 95% CI: 2.10 to 10.75, p = 0.0002) or ≥5 segments (HR: 5.12, 95% CI: 2.16 to 12.10, p = 0.0002). Higher mortality for nonobstructive CAD was observed even among patients with low 10-year Framingham risk (3.4%, p < 0.0001) as well as those with no traditional, medically treatable CAD risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (6.7%, p < 0.0001). No independent relationship between plaque composition and incident mortality was observed. Importantly, patients without evident plaque experienced a low rate of incident death during follow-up (0.34%/year).ConclusionsThe presence and extent of nonobstructive plaques augment prediction of incident mortality beyond conventional clinical risk assessment.

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