Coronary artery calcium score in high-risk asymptomatic women in Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is indicated by calcium deposits in the coronary artery wall. Calcification is a component of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Currently, there are no data on calcification in Saudi women at high risk of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and percentiles of CAC score in high-risk asymptotic women in Saudi Arabia with comparison of age-specific CAC percentiles derived from large population-based published study in the United States.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of CAC scores (CACS) at a single tertiary care center.


METHODS
Between January 2011 and April 2015, women referred for CAC screening because of the presence of one or more CAD risk factors were enrolled in the study. CT scans were interpreted by an experienced radiographic technologist, and confirmed by a radiologist.


RESULTS
The study sample consisted of 918 women, mean (SD) age of 55 (11) years. All patients were asymp.tomatic and referred by their primary care physician or cardiologist for CAC screening because presence of one or more CAD risks factors. CAD risk factors included diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, family history of CAD, and obesity. Baseline CAD risk factors were remarkably higher than in the US comparator group. CACS for 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles were calculated. The 75th and 90th CACS percentiles in Saudi women were significantly higher than the US percentiles. Age and diabetes are the most independent predictor of severity of CAC.


CONCLUSIONS
A potential bias due to sample collection because data was from a single tertiary care center, the study was retrospective and the sample size was small.


CONCLUSIONS
There are significantly higher CACS percentiles in Saudi women compared with international data. Application of available published percentiles to a local population is not applicable and underestimates the severity of subclinical atherosclerosis. A large local population-based study is warranted to establish local CACS percentiles for a better understanding CAD screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Ahmed Fathala MD, Department of Radiology,, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre,, MBC 28, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia, T: +966-11-4647272 ext 33812, ahm35799@hotmail.com.
Ahmed
A
Fathala
Saleh
S
Alreshoodi
Mashael Al
MA
Rujaib
Mohamed
M
Shoukri
Hani Al
HA
Sergani
Jehad Al
JA
Buriki
Abdulaziz Al
AA
Sugair
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D002118:Calcium