title: Prevalence of coronary artery disease in low to moderate-risk asymptomatic women: a multislice computed tomography study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traditional risk factors may underestimate the burden of subclinical atherosclerosis in women. Recently, multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has become widely available in detecting early coronary artery disease (CAD). We sought the prevalence of CAD in low to moderate-risk asymptomatic women by MSCT coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring and coronary angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 185 women (mean age 57+/-12 years) without known CAD and diabetes, with low or moderate risk for CAD based on traditional risk scoring. Coronary artery calcium scoring and coronary angiography were performed by MSCT, which included a segment-based plaque detection and characterization of calcification. The plaques were classified based on the luminal stenotic effect (>50%). Patients with = or >1 stenotic plaque were classified as having obstructive CAD. Angiographic findings were compared with calcium scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coronary artery calcium scoring and coronary angiography detected CAD in 63 (34.1%) and 100 (54.1%) women, respectively. In both groups, women were significantly older and had higher prevalences of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Coronary angiography showed CAD in 41 women (41%; 14.6% were obstructive) without CAC. These women were significantly younger than those with a positive CAC score (p<0.01). Age (p<0.02) and hypertension (p<0.05) were found as independent predictors of CAD detected by coronary angiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multislice computed tomography identified a subset of low-risk women who might be at higher risk than that suggested by current risk stratification strategies. Women, especially having hypertension and dyslipidemia may be potential candidates for further risk stratification by MSCT coronary angiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty of Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eroğlu
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bayrak
authors.forename: Gökmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gemici
authors.forename: Tahsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Güneysu
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.forename: Ali Kemal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Değertekin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*