Fluoroscopic coronary calcification and exercise stress test in asymptomatic elderly Asian-Indians.
OBJECTIVE
Provide preliminary data on prevalence and functional significance (association with atherosclerotic risk factors and stress test positivity) of fluoroscopically detected CAC (Coronary Artery Calcification) in asymptomatic elderly Indian-Asian.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Outpatient services at 1000-bed tertiary care hospital in Northern India.


METHODS
100 sedentary elderly (>60 years) Asian-Indian subjects (70 males, 30 females, age 65.9 +/- 5.1 years) with no history of CAD (asymptomatic).


METHODS
CAC assessment was done using high intensity cine fluoroscopy and semi quantitative CAC scoring (scores 0-3) in all subjects (n = 100). Risk factor profile (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, serum lipids, body-mass index, waist-hip ratio) documented for all subjects. In 50 (the latter half of 100) consecutive subjects (29 males and 21 females, age 64.2 +/- 4.9 years), exercise stress test (treadmill test, TMT) was also done using standard Bruce protocol.


RESULTS
92% (84.8-96.1, 95% CI) had fluoroscopic calcification and there was no significant association of higher CAC scores and risk factors, except for a positive trend with serum total cholesterol (p = 0.086). 20% (11-33.2, 95% CI) tested positive on exercise stress test and a positive trend (OR = 7.2, 95% CI = 0.8-63, p value = 0.067) with higher CAC scores was seen.


CONCLUSIONS
High prevalence of fluoroscopic CAC and stress test positivity was observed in asymptomatic elderly Asian-Indians. The newly observed positive trend with increasing total cholesterol levels and stress test positivity highlights the importance of fluoroscopic CAC in asymptomatic elderly and should be corroborated with larger studies.
Singh
Nishith K
NK
Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. nishith_singh2004@yahoo.co.in
Narang
Rajiv
R
Dey
Aparajit B
AB
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors