title: Statins use and coronary artery plaque composition: results from the International Multicenter CONFIRM Registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effect of statins on coronary artery plaque features beyond stenosis severity is not known. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a novel non-invasive method that permits direct visualization of coronary atherosclerotic features, including plaque composition. We evaluated the association of statin use to coronary plaque composition type in patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing CCTA.
  
  
  METHODS
  From consecutive individuals, we identified 6673 individuals (2413 on statin therapy and 4260 not on statin therapy) with no known CAD and available statin use status. We studied the relationship between statin use and the presence and extent of specific plaque composition types, which was graded as non-calcified (NCP), mixed (MP), or calcified (CP) plaque.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 59 ± 11 (55% male). Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had higher prevalence of risk factors and obstructive CAD. In multivariable analyses, statin use was associated with increased the presence of MP [odds ratio (OR) 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-1.68), p < 0.001] and CP (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.36-1.74, p < 0.001), but not NCP (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.96-1.29, p = 0.1). Further, in multivariable analyses, statin use was associated with increasing numbers of coronary segments possessing MP (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.34-1.73, p < 0.001) and CP (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.70, p < 0.001), but not coronary segments with NCP (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.94-1.25, p = 0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statin use is associated with an increased prevalence and extent of coronary plaques possessing calcium. The longitudinal effect of statins on coronary plaque composition warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Department of Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Ryo.Nakazato@cshs.org
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gransar
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Victor Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Fay Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achenbach
authors.forename: Mouaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mallah
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Budoff
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cademartiri
authors.forename: Tracy Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Callister
authors.forename: Hyuk-Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ricardo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chinnaiyan
authors.forename: Benjamin J W
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Augustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delago
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hadamitzky
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hausleiter
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raff
authors.forename: Leslee J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Todd C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Villines
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunning
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feuchtner
authors.forename: Yong-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jonathon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leipsic
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012042:Registries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors