Predicting significant coronary artery disease in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Because coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with low ejection function (EF), a number of patients with heart failure undergo diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The objective of this study was to develop a model to assist clinicians in determining the likelihood of CAD before cardiac catheterization.


METHODS
This study was a retrospective analysis using the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease. From the databank, 2054 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization between 1992 and 2002 that was preceded by echocardiography with an EF of < 45% were identified. The patients' median age was 63 years, and the median EF was 30%. Patients were considered to have significant CAD if any major epicardial vessel had > or = 75% stenosis. A multivariable model of CAD was generated using stepwise logistic regression. We included demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters, including segmental wall motion abnormality.


RESULTS
Of the patients who met the criteria, 1184 (58%) had significant CAD and 870 (42%) did not. Significant predictors of CAD, in the order of their ability to predict significant CAD, included history of myocardial infarction, age, diabetes mellitus, Q wave on electrocardiogram, male sex, and segmental wall motion abnormality (all P < .0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.865.


CONCLUSIONS
By using baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, we developed a highly discriminatory diagnostic model for predicting CAD in patients with heart failure. Given the high prevalence of patients without CAD in this cohort, accurate baseline assessment of patients with left ventricular dysfunction for CAD might avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.
Whellan
David J
DJ
Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. david.whelan@jefferson.edu
Tuttle
Robert H
RH
Velazquez
Eric J
EJ
Shaw
Linda K
LK
Jollis
James G
JG
Ellis
Wendell
W
O'Connor
Christopher M
CM
Califf
Robert M
RM
Borges-Neto
Salvador
S
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D049451:Nomograms; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000453:epidemiology*