Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy: An Evaluation by CT Coronary Angiography

Abstract

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) poses elevated risk of cardiovascular event and mortality, similar to other autoimmune rheumatic diseases. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the prevalence and risk factor of subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with IIM, using CT coronary angiogram (CTCA). The prevalence of obstructive CAD and CAD in IIM (13.3% and 66.7%, respectively) were significantly higher than age and sex-matched controls (0% and 30%, respectively, both [Formula: see text]). Diabetes mellitus and calcium calcification score [Formula: see text] units were found to be the independent predictors of obstructive CAD. Screening of high-risk patients with aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors should be considered in managing IIM patients.