Prevalence and associated risk factors of coronary artery disease in patients with a zero coronary calcium score

• Published in: Clinical imaging 2021-09, Vol.77, p.207-212
• Main Authors: Avdan Aslan, Aydan, Erbaş, Gonca, Erdal, Zeynep Sezgi, Şendur, Halit Nahit, Cerit, Mahi Nur, Öncü, Fatih, Cindil, Emetullah, Şahinarslan, Asife, Kiliç, Koray, Araç, Mehmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Angiography; Asymptomatic; Body mass index; Calcium; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Computed tomography; Coronary angiography; Coronary artery; Coronary artery calcium score; Coronary artery disease; Coronary vessels; Diabetes; Dyspnea; Electrocardiography; Family medical history; Gender; Health risks; Heart diseases; Hypertension; Males; Medical records; Multidetector computed tomography; Multivariate analysis; Noncalcified coronary plaque; Obesity; Pain; Patients; Plaques; Radiation; Radiation effects; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Statistical analysis; Tomography; Variables
• ISSN: 0899-7071; 1873-4499
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2021.05.002

A zero coronary calcium score (CCS) is not able to provide a definite exclusion for coronary artery disease (CAD). The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors of CAD in patients with zero CCS. Six hundred thirteen patients with zero CCS referred to coronary calcium score analysis (CCSA) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with suspicion of CAD were included. The descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were used to determine the prevalence and predictors of CAD presence. Among 613 patients, 17 patients (2.7%) have NCCP, and obstructive CAD was found in 3 patients (0.48%). Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender and older age (≥50 years) were significantly associated with the presence of noncalcified coronary plaques (NCCP) (p