title: The prevalence and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects classified as low risk based on traditional risk stratification algorithm: assessment with coronary CT angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects classified as low risk by National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guideline using coronary CT angiography (CCTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  2133 (49.2%) subjects, who were classified as low risk by the NCEP guideline, of 4339 consecutive middle-aged asymptomatic subjects who underwent CCTA with 64-slice scanners as part of a general health evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The incidence of atherosclerosis plaques, significant stenosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the subjects at low risk, 11.4% (243 of 2133) of subjects had atherosclerosis plaques, 1.3% (28 of 2133) of subjects had significant stenosis, and 0.8% (18 of 2133) of subjects had significant stenosis caused by non-calcified plaque (NCP). Especially, 75.0% (21 of 28) of subjects with significant stenosis and 94.4% (17 of 18) of subjects with significant stenosis caused by NCP were young adults. Mid-term follow-up (29.3 ± 14.9 months) revealed four subjects with cardiac events: three subjects with unstable angina requiring hospital stay and one subject with percutaneous coronary intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although an asymptomatic population classified as low risk by the NCEP guideline has been regarded as a minimal risk group, the prevalence of atherosclerosis plaques and significant stenosis were not negligible. However, considering very low event rate for those patients, CCTA should not be performed in low-risk asymptomatic subjects, although CCTA might have the potential for identification of high-risk groups in the selected subjects regarded as a minimal-risk group by NCEP guideline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, 300 Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-707, Korea.
authors.forename: Kil Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Min Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE