title: Absolute coronary artery calcium score is the best predictor of non-calcified plaque involvement in patients with low calcium scores (1-100).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to identify the predictors of non-calcified plaque (NCP) burden in patients with low coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores of 1-100.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 920 consecutive patients clinically referred for coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with concomitant CAC scoring. The 276 patients with CAC 1-100 were divided into four groups based on the CAC score: CAC = 0, 1-10, 11-50, and 51-100. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed for the demographic, risk factor, and CAC score predictors of number of coronary segments with NCP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 55 ± 11 years and 56% were women. Demographics and risk factors failed to identify NCP involvement in univariate models. The lone predictor of NCP burden was the absolute CAC score, which was persistently associated with NCP in multivariable models (CAC 51-100 vs. CAC 1-10, β-coefficient 0.35, p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absolute CAC score is the lone robust predictor of NCP burden when CAC is 1-100. Risk within this mild coronary calcification group is likely heterogeneous, driven by the absolute CAC score.
authors: The Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors: Lori M
authors: LM
authors: Tam
authors: Joonseok
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Roger S
authors: RS
authors: Blumenthal
authors: Khurram
authors: K
authors: Nasir
authors: Mouaz H
authors: MH
authors: Al-Mallah
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Blaha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: Atherosclerosis; CAC; Calcified plaque; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery calcium; Coronary heart disease; Non-calcified plaque; Prevention