[Electron beam tomography in coronary disease. Prevalence and distribution of coronary calcifications and their relationship with coronary risk factors in 650 patients].
OBJECTIVE
The extent of coronary calcification demonstrated by electron beam tomography was correlated with the individual cardiac risk profile.


METHODS
The possible presence of coronary calcifications was studied by electron beam tomography (EBT) in 650 patients (526 men, 124 women; mean age 54 +/- 10 [28-81] years) with known or suspected coronary heart disease. Depending on the degree of density and the size of the lesion a score was calculated according to an international standard.


RESULTS
No calcification was shown to be present in 202 patients (score of 0). A score of more than 0 was calculated in 73.8% of men and 48.4% of women. The average score was 227.8 +/- 24.8 in men, compared with 65.3 +/- 26.5 in women (P < 0.001). There were significantly more calcifications in older patients: Men aged 71-75 years had the highest score, 859.4, while the lowest, 9.6, was in those aged 36 to 40 years. The most important variables for the presence of calcification were age (relative risk per age group: 1.6), male sex (relative risk: 4.3), hypertension (relative risk: 2.4) and nicotine consumption (relative risk: 1.8). The median point score in patients without known risk factors was 1.3, with one known factor it was 7.2, and with three it was 48.0. The vessel segment most affected with calcification was the anterior interventricular branch with an average score of 84.


CONCLUSIONS
Together with an evaluation of the risk profile EBT provided a better assessment of individual risk than conventional examination.
Schmermund
A
A
Entwicklungs- und Forschungsinstitut für Mikrotherapie, Bochum.
Lange
S
S
Sehnert
C
C
Altmaier
K
K
Baumgart
D
D
Görge
G
G
Erbel
R
R
Seibel
R
R
Grönemeyer
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D008055:Lipids
Elektronenstrahltomographie bei koronarer Herzkrankheit. Prävalenz und Verteilung von Koronarkalk und Assoziation mit koronaren Risikofaktoren bei 650 Patienten.