title: Computed tomography imaging of early coronary artery lesions in stable individuals with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence, extent, severity, and features of coronary artery lesions in stable patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven patients with more than 3 cardiovascular risk factors were suspected of having coronary artery disease. Patients with high-risk factors and 39 controls with no risk factors were enrolled in the study. The related risk factors included hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, smoking history, and overweight. The characteristics of coronary lesions were identified and evaluated by 64-slice coronary computed tomography angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of coronary atherosclerosis was higher in the high-risk group than in the no-risk group. The involved branches of the coronary artery, the diffusivity of the lesion, the degree of stenosis, and the nature of the plaques were significantly more severe in the high-risk group compared with the no-risk group (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among stable individuals with high-risk factors, early coronary artery lesions are common and severe. Computed tomography has promising value for the early screening of coronary lesions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics Endocrinology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects