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We assessed sex-related differences in the association of pericardial fat volume (PFV) and obesity measured by body mass index (BMI) with coronary atherosclerotic markers (coronary artery calcium score [CAC], coronary luminal stenosis severity, and coronary plaque) in young patients. Patients (n = 174; age <50 years) with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent 64-slice multidetector computed tomography angiography were enrolled. Females tended to have a younger age and increased BMI, normal coronary arteries (free from luminal stenosis), and increased percentage of absent coronary plaque compared with males. There was a significant independent association between PFV with coronary luminal stenosis and between PFV and BMI with coronary noncalcified plaque presence after adjustment for conventional cardiac risk factors. On the other hand, males showed a more increment in PFV, CAC, percentage of calcified plaque, and percentage of significant coronary luminal stenosis compared with females. There was a significant independent association of PFV with CAC, significant coronary stenosis, and calcified plaque presence, while no association was observed between BMI with coronary markers in young males. In conclusion, PFV, but not BMI, showed a significant independent association with advanced coronary atherosclerosis in young male patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The link between obesity and hypertension with coronary atherosclerosis is complex. We aimed to assess the association of cardiac fat deposition measured by pericardial fat volume(PFV) using by multi-detector CT(MDCT) and general obesity measured by BMI with subclinical coronary atherosclerotic markers (coronary artery calcium score (CAC), coronary plaque and stenosis) in patients with hypertension and suspected coronary artery disease. Among 496 patients presenting with chest pain who underwent 64-slice MDCT angiography to exclude occlusive coronary disease, 261 patients with hypertension (age: 57 ± 8 years, 45% males) enrolled in the present study. PFV showed a significant association with CAC(r = 0.2,P =.001),coronary stenosis severity(PFV median(IQR) 88(63–161) in patients with coronary stenosis<50% compared to PFV median(IQR) 125(85–140) in patients with coronary stenosis ≥ 50%, P =.001) and coronary plaque presence (PFV median (IQR) 89(65–128) in patients without plaque compared to PFV median (IQR) 115(74–150) in patients with plaque presence = 0.03).the significant association of PFV with CAC[odds ratio(95% confidence interval = 0.5(0.19–0.97),P =.001] and coronary stenosis severity [odds ratio(95% confidence interval = 1.1(1.00–1.01),P =.01]persisted after adjustment for conventional cardiac risk. BMI showed a significant association with significant coronary stenosis presence (P =.02).The association of BMI with significant coronary stenosis presence after adjustment for conventional cardiac risk factors (P =.03).BMI showed no significant association with CAC and coronary plaque presence (P >.05). PFV showed a significant independent association with coronary calcification and significant coronary stenosis in patients with hypertension rather than BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hypertension on angiographic results in Iraqi patients with coronary artery disease. Six hundred and fifty seven patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were submitted to routine coronary angiography in the period from January 2008 to December 2010. A comparison and evaluation have been divided into 2 stages. There was no significant association between patients with CAD who had a history of hypertension only with the number and distribution of coronary artery vessels involvement, as well as with morphological severity of coronary lesions. But, there was a statistically significant association between hypertension associated with other cardiac risk factors with multiple coronary lesions. Hypertension was significantly associated with multiple coronary artery lesions when combined with other cardiac risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that coronary atherosclerosis risk assessment using coronary artery calcium and thoracic aorta calcium quantification may improve risk stratification as it can lead to the reclassification of persons at increased risk. The aortic root has been characterized by its close anatomical proximity to the ostial origins of the right and left coronary arteries, and it can be evaluated using multi-detector computed tomography without additional radiation exposure and the use of contrast. The correlations between aortic root calcification and coronary atherosclerotic markers as well as cardiac risk factors have been analyzed.

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hypertension on angiographic results in Iraqi patients with coronary artery disease. Six hundred and fifty seven patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were submitted to routine coronary angiography in the period from January 2008 to December 2010. A comparison and evaluation have been divided into 2 stages. There was no significant association between patients with CAD who had a history of hypertension only with the number and distribution of coronary artery vessels involvement, as well as with morphological severity of coronary lesions. But, there was a statistically significant association between hypertension associated with other cardiac risk factors with multiple coronary lesions. Hypertension was significantly associated with multiple coronary artery lesions when combined with other cardiac risk factors.