Coronary flow reserve is a comprehensive indicator of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with chest pain and normal coronary angiogram.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to analyze the parameters related to baseline coronary flow velocity (CFV) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) using Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and to assess their associations with components of the Framingham risk score (FRS), which estimates 10-year risk of coronary heart disease, in subjects with chest pain and a normal coronary angiogram.


RESULTS
A total of 354 individuals (mean age: 55+/-11 years, M:F ratio =186:168) with angina or angina-like chest pain and a normal coronary arteriogram were enrolled. CFR, using TTE and adenosine or dipyridamole, was measured within 2 weeks after coronary angiogram. The clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and laboratory parameters related to baseline CVF and CFR were analyzed, and CFR was compared with FRS. There was an inverse correlation between baseline CFV and CFR (r=-0.374, P<0.001). On multivariate analysis the fulfilling of left ventricular hypertrophy criteria on electrocardiography was an independent predictor of baseline CFV for the upper 75% quartile (23.2> or =cm/s; odds ratio (OR) = 2.840, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.155-6.983, P=0.023). On multivariate analysis hemoglobin A(1c) level was independently related to a CFR <2.0 (OR = 2.195, 95%CI = 0.920-1.005, P=0.013). CFR had an inverse correlation with FRS (r=-0.222, P<0.001). On multiple regression analysis among the components of the FRS system (FRSS), independent factors related to a CFR <2.0 included age (OR =1.033, 95%CI =1.000-1.067, P=0.041), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (OR = 0.961, 95%CI = 0.933-0.991, P=0.012) and smoking status (OR = 2.461, 95%CI =1.078-5.618, P=0.033), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
CFR can be a comprehensive indicator of cardiovascular risk factors, including parameters of the FRSS, in subjects with chest pain and a normal coronary angiogram.
Lee
Dong-Hyeon
DH
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Youn
Ho-Joong
HJ
Choi
Yun-Seok
YS
Park
Chul-Soo
CS
Park
Jeong-Hwan
JH
Jeon
Hui-Kyung
HK
Kim
Jae-Hyung
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index