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Airflow obstruction is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the causal mechanisms linking airflow obstruction with higher incidence of cardiovascular events remain elusive. We evaluated the relationship between airflow obstruction, a key feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and prevalence, extent, and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in a large cohort of asymptomatic subjects. Participants were recruited from those undergoing spirometry and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) as part of a general health evaluation from March 2009 to February 2011. Subjects were required to be over 40 years of age with no known CAD. Airflow obstruction was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 70%. Obstructive CAD, as measured by CCTA, was defined as maximum intra-luminal stenosis ≥ 50%. Participants with airflow obstruction or normal lung function were compared in terms of obstructive CAD prevalence, the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis; including coronary artery calcium score (CACS), atheroma burden score (ABS), atheroma burden obstructive score (ABOS), segment involvement score (SIS), and segment stenosis score (SSS). A total of 1888 subjects were eligible for study inclusion. Compared with participants with normal lung function, those exhibiting airflow obstruction were more likely to have obstructive CAD (p = 0.002). Airflow obstruction was associated with higher CACS (p = 0.043), ABS (p = 0.002), ABOS (p = 0.017), SIS (p = 0.003), and SSS (p = 0.002). Multivariable analyses adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors revealed that airflow obstruction was independently associated with presence of CAD (odds ratio 1.673, confidence intervals [CI] 1.002-2.789, p = 0.048). In this asymptomatic population, the presence of airflow obstruction was associated with a greater prevalence, extent, and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and was seen to be an independent predictor of the presence of CAD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the combined effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes on the extent and developmental pattern of coronary artery disease (CAD)., Methods: A total of 3,017 self-referred asymptomatic individuals without known CAD who underwent 64-channel dual-source coronary computed tomography angiography between 2006 and 2010 were enrolled. The patients were divided into six groups based on their diabetes status (nondiabetic or diabetic) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (eGFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, normal renal function; eGFR 60-89, mild CKD; or eGFR 30-59, moderate CKD). We compared the coronary artery calcium score (CACS), segment stenosis score (SSS), and ≥50% obstructive CAD among the groups., Results: In nondiabetics, whereas SSS and ≥50% obstructive CAD were not different as renal function deteriorated, after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, CACS showed a unique developmental pattern: no CACS increase until mild CKD, but abrupt increase from the stage of moderate CKD (moderate vs. normal renal function, adjusted OR 5.118, 95% CI 1.293-20.262, p = 0.020). In diabetics, patients from the stage of mild CKD were more likely to have ≥50% obstructive CAD (p = 0.004), higher CACS (p = 0.020), and SSS (p = 0.001) in multivariable analysis., Conclusions: The presence of CKD did not have a significant impact on the development of coronary atherosclerosis, but affected the progression of coronary calcification more markedly from the stage of moderate CKD in nondiabetics. However, in diabetics, the deterioration of renal function was significantly associated with the development of coronary atherosclerosis and calcification from the stage of mild CKD., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aims: We investigated the association between diabetes duration and the extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as long-term clinical outcomes using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients., Methods and Results: We analysed 933 asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients without known CAD who underwent CCTA. Patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of diabetes: <5 years, 5-10 years, and ≥10 years. Stenosis by CCTA was scored as none (0%), non-obstructive (1-49%), or obstructive (≥50%) for each coronary artery segment. For these patients, we compared the prevalence, extent, and severity of CAD, including coronary artery calcium score (CACS), atheroma burden obstructive score (ABOS), segment involvement score (SIS), and segment stenosis score (SSS). Major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke, within a follow-up period were also compared.Patients with longer duration of diabetes possessed higher rates of obstructive CAD (P < 0.001). Patients with longer duration of diabetes also manifested greater degree of CACS, ABOS, SIS, and SSS (P < 0.001 for all) with associated higher rate of MACCE (P = 0.025). Presence of obstructive CAD as assessed by CCTA was an independent predictor of MACCE after adjusting for confounding risk factors (hazard ratio: 1.979, confidence interval: 1.178-3.327, P = 0.010)., Conclusion: In asymptomatic diabetic patients, longer diabetes duration is associated with a higher prevalence, extent, and severity of CAD as well as risk of MACCE. Moreover, greater CAD burden increases the risk of MACCE independent of co-existing CAD risk factors., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

This study assessed the associations between microalbuminuria in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and the presence, extent, and severity of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), and the long-term clinical outcomes. In total, the study enrolled 284 consecutive eligible asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes and without known coronary artery disease (CAD), who then underwent CCTA and 24 h urine albumin measurements. Microalbuminuria was defined as 30-300 mg/day urinary albumin excretion. Obstructive CAD, as measured by CCTA, was defined as maximum intra-luminal stenosis ≥50 %. Patients with and without microalbuminuria were compared in terms of obstructive CAD prevalence, and the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis. They were evaluated using the following data: coronary artery calcium score (CACS), atheroma burden obstructive score (ABOS), segment involvement score (SIS) and segment stenosis score (SSS). All-cause mortality within a follow-up period of 5 years was also compared. Compared to patients without microalbuminuria, patients with microalbuminuria were more likely to have obstructive CAD (p = 0.004). Microalbuminuria was associated with higher ABOS (p = 0.010), SIS (p = 0.029), and SSS (p = 0.011), except for CACS (p = 0.058). Multivariable analyses adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors revealed that microalbuminuria was an independent predictor of obstructive CAD [odds ratio 2.255, confidence intervals (CI) 1.121-4.538, p = 0.023] and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 3.469, CI 1.319-9.121, p = 0.012). In asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes, microalbuminuria was associated with increased risk of CAD and poorer clinical outcomes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the aortic valve calcium score (AVCS) and the coronary plaque burden using 64-slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). Calcification of the aortic valve without significant aortic stenosis itself has been suggested to be a marker of atherosclerosis. In this study, we attempted to identify a quantitative correlation between AVCS and the coronary plaque burden assumed by the Gensini score. We retrospectively evaluated 200 patients (aged 40 - 88 years) who underwent MDCT and coronary angiography for chest pain. After exclusion of an aortic stenosis (peak velocity ≥ 2.0 m/s), the plaque burden of the coronary artery was determined by the Gensini score based on the plaque composition (calcified, mixed, or noncalcified plaque) of the CT angiogram. The calcific aortic valve group (AVCS > 0) showed no significant difference in the total plaque burden compared to the noncalcific aortic valve group (AVC = 0) (Gensini score 23.6 ± 15.1 versus 21.2 ± 17.5, P = 0.31). However, the calcified plaque burden was higher in the calcific aortic valve group (Gensini score by calcified plaque 9.1 ± 10.4 versus 5.5 ± 8.6, P = 0.008). In the subgroup of patients who had an AVCS of more than 90.0 (upper 75th percentile, n = 20), the AVCS showed a more significant correlation with the Gensini score by calcified plaque (r = 0.618, P < 0.01). Our results suggest that a high level of AVCS is associated with the calcified plaque burden of the coronary artery rather than the total plaque burden.

Objective: To compare the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and end-systolic volume (ESV) from electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography (CT) to gated single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)., Methods: Fifty-seven patients underwent electrocardiogram-gated multidetector CT and SPECT examinations within a 3-month period, without interim cardiac events. The LV EF, EDV, and ESV were compared., Results: There was an excellent correlation between LV EF obtained from CT (60.25% +/- 12.93%) and SPECT (61.90% +/- 14.93%) (r = 0.81), with no significant difference (P = 0.17). Computed tomography-derived EDV and ESV correlated well with SPECT (r = 0.88 and 0.94, respectively). The EDV from SPECT (132.21 +/- 67.10 mL) was significantly lower than that from CT (147.53 +/- 55.03 mL; P = 0.0007); there was a trend for ESV from SPECT (58.39 +/- 61.20 mL) to be lower than that from CT (63.79 +/- 53.58 mL; P = 0.055). The EF, EDV, and ESV correlation of SPECT with the 64-row multidetector CT was better (r = 0.87, 0.89, and 0.96, respectively) than that with the 16-row CT (r = 0.36, 0.66, and 0.49, respectively)., Conclusions: There is a good correlation between LV EF, EDV, and ESV from gated SPECT and CT (particularly the 64-row CT). The LV volumes are lower on SPECT than on CT.

Background: With the development of computed tomography (CT) technology, coronary CT angiography can be acquired with low doses of radiation and contrast agent without a loss of diagnostic performance. The primary objective of the CONCENTRATE study is to prove the noninferiority of the enhancement effect of low-concentration contrast agents compared to a high-concentration contrast agent of the coronary artery and myocardium with coronary CT angiography.Methods/design: The CONCENTRATE study is a prospective, multicenter, noninferiority, randomized trial evaluating the enhancement effect of low-concentration contrast agents (270 and 320 mg iodine/ml) compared with a high-concentration contrast agent (370 mg iodine/ml) in the coronary artery and myocardium of coronary artery CT angiography. The primary efficacy measurement is the enhancement of coronary arteries as measured in Hounsfield units. The target population comprises 318 patients with suspected coronary artery disease who have been referred for clinically indicated nonemergent coronary CT angiography. Eligible participants are randomized for three different concentrations of the contrast agent in a 1:1:1 allocation ratio to one of three arms. The CONCENTRATE trial is a double-blind study, where the subjects and the outcome assessor are blinded to the concentration of the contrast agent used for coronary the CT angiography. Eight clinical sites in Korea are participating in this trial.Discussion: The CONCENTRATE study will determine whether low-concentration contrast agents are able to provide diagnostic image quality in coronary CT angiography.Trial Registration: NCT02549794 . Registered on 14 September 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Limited data exist regarding the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as clinical outcomes in asymptomatic diabetic patients with normotension, controlled hypertension, and uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: We enrolled 935 consecutive asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients without known CAD. Coronary computed tomography angiography was used to evaluate the prevalence and severity of CAD. Blood pressure was measured at baseline. Patients were assigned to one of the three groups: normotension (n=314), controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP)<140mmHg with treatment, n=458), or uncontrolled hypertension (SBP≥140mmHg with or without treatment, n=163). Results: Obstructive CAD (≥50% stenosis) increased from the prevalence in normotensive patients (33%) to that in patients with controlled (40%) or uncontrolled hypertension (52%) (p=0.003). The incidence of obstructive CAD in multivessel or left main CAD also increased across the three groups (13%, 21%, 32%, respectively, p<0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that uncontrolled hypertension was an independent predictor of obstructive CAD (adjusted odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42 to 3.21, p<0.001). During a median follow-up of 3.1years, uncontrolled hypertension was associated with increased risk of cardiac death or myocardial infarction compared to the risk in normotensive patients (hazard ratio, 6.11; 95% CI, 1.65 to 22.6, p=0.007). Conclusion: In asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients, uncontrolled hypertension was associated with increased risk of CAD and poor clinical outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]