title: Coronary Artery Calcium Score Improves the Prediction of Occult Coronary Artery Stenosis in Ischemic Stroke Patients.
abstract: Coronary heart disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in stroke patients. The coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has emerged as a robust and noninvasive predictor of coronary events. We assessed the predictive ability of CACS to identify stroke patients with severe (≥50%) occult coronary artery stenosis in a stroke/transient ischemic attack population, in addition to the PRECORIS score, based on Framingham Risk Score and presence of cervicocephalic artery stenosis, which was derived and validated for that purpose.
  
  
  
  We enrolled consecutive patients aged 45 to 75 years referred to our stroke unit with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, and no prior history of coronary disease. The presence of coronary stenosis was assessed with 64-section computed tomography coronary angiography, and all patients had a detailed etiological work-up. CACS was determined from computed tomography measurement using the Agatson score. The predictive value of CACS was assessed by logistic regression and reclassification method. Among 300 patients included in the study, 274 had computed tomography coronary angiography. Fifty patients (18%) had at least 1 coronary artery stenosis ≥50%. In multivariable analysis, after adjustment for the PRECORIS score, CACS was strongly associated with the presence of occult coronary artery stenosis (odds ratio=14.8 [1.8-120.3] for CACS [1-100] and 70.9 [8.9-562.0] for CACS >100). When CACS was added to the standard model, model fit was improved (P<0.001), Net Reclassification Improvement was 28.2% (P<0.001), and Integrated Discrimination Index was 18.2% (P<0.001).
  
  
  
  In stroke/transient ischemic attack patients, CACS improves the prediction of occult coronary stenosis beyond classical risk factors.
authors: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Université Paris Descartes DHU Neurovasc Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM U894, Paris, France.
authors: Ysoline
authors: Y
authors: Beigneux
authors: Department of Radiology, Centre Cardiologique du Nord, Saint-Denis, France.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Sablayrolles
authors: Department of Cardiology, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Varenne
authors: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Université Paris Descartes DHU Neurovasc Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM U894, Paris, France.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Mas
authors: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Université Paris Descartes DHU Neurovasc Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM U894, Paris, France d.calvet@ch-sainte-anne.fr.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Calvet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: coronary artery calcium; coronary artery disease; coronary computed tomography angiography; predictors