The role and diagnostic value of assessing the degree of coronary arteries calcification for predicting the severity of coronary heart disease

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading mortality causes. According to the latest guidelines, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is one of the main non-invasive methods for diagnosis of CHD, which allows for quantification of stenosis severity and the characterization of stenotic lesions. Aim of the study. It is to study the role, diagnostic value and dependence of coronary artery calcification on the degree of stenotic lesion of the coronary arteries and anthropometric parameters in patients with coronary artery disease examined by computed tomography. Materials and methods. According to the purpose of the study, 46 patients were included: 32 (69.6 %) males and 14 (30.4 %) females. The average age of the patients was 59.0 ± 9.8 years, height – 172 ± 9 cm, weight – 85.6 ± 12.9 kg, body mass index (BMI) – 28.6 ± 4.13, body surface area (BSA) – 1.98 ± 0.17 m2. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Independent t-tests were conducted between two groups of patients (Agatston index ≥400 and <400), using P < 0.05 as a significant value. Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to determine independent coronary calcium predictors using P < 0.05 as a significant value. Results. According to the results of the age analysis, significant differences were found among both groups of patients (P = 0.02). Notable differences in the number of affected coronary arteries between Groups 1 and 2 with an Agatston index ≥400 and <400 (P < 0.01) were found. During the correlation analysis, a significant moderate positive correlation of the SYNTAX score level with Agatston index (r = 0.69, P < 0.01) was revealed. Conclusions. The degree of coronary arteries calcification with Agatston score ≥400 is an independent predictor of severe coronary heart disease with multivessel lesion of the coronary arteries. The degree of calcification of coronary arteries with Agatston score ≥400 is more common in males. Height, weight, BMI and BSA do not influence the degree of coronary calcification arteries and Agatston score level.