Prevalence and extent of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and related outcome based on coronary computed tomographic angiography in asymptomatic elderly patients: retrospective cohort study.
There is little data regarding coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or atherosclerotic plaques on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) among the elderly and its outcome, especially in asymptomatic patients. Using CCTA, we evaluated the prevalence and extent of CAD and/or atherosclerosis and related outcomes in asymptomatic elderly patients as compared with symptomatic elderly patients. The study included 1,196 consecutive patients aged 70 years or older who underwent CCTA over a 2-year period. Data were retrospectively evaluated for clinical cardiovascular risk factors with co-morbidities, and CCTA findings, including calcium scores, atherosclerotic plaques (number, plaque-segment score, plaque-extent score, and plaque-significant score) and presence of significant CAD. Follow-up data for active management and all-cause mortality after CCTA were collected for 2 years. Two-sided Student's t test for independent samples, Chi square contingency tables, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used for statistical analysis. Data for 454 asymptomatic and 742 symptomatic elderly patients were analyzed. The prevalence of significant CAD and the extent of atherosclerotic plaques did not differ between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Asymptomatic patients with significant CAD on CCTA, were less likely to receive active management (P < 0.001), which may be related to the higher death rate in this group (P = 0.012) than in the symptomatic patients with significant CAD. Overall, symptoms were not related to the presence of significant CAD or to the extent of atherosclerosis in these elderly patients. However, all-cause mortality was higher in the asymptomatic patients with significant CAD than in the symptomatic ones.
Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea.
Hye-Jeong
HJ
Lee
Young Jin
YJ
Kim
Jin
J
Hur
Ji Won
JW
Lee
Yoo Jin
YJ
Hong
Hee Yeong
HY
Kim
Hyuk-Jae
HJ
Chang
Tae Hoon
TH
Kim
Byoung Wook
BW
Choi
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*