The association of coronary non-calcified plaque loading based on coronary computed tomography angiogram and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unstable coronary heart disease-a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) has the characteristics of noninvasive, high resolution, and can accurately determine the characteristics of tubular wall plaques. The non-calcified plaque loading of the coronary arteries is unstable and prone to shedding, leading to adverse cardiovascular events. However, few studies focused on the predictive value of non-calcified plaque loading for adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unstable coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study was conducted to investigate the association of coronary non-calcified plaque loading based on CCTA and adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unstable CHD.Methods: A total of 206 patients with unstable CHD were collected and followed up for 1 year. The patients were divided into an observation group (n=56) and a control group (n=150) according to whether adverse cardiovascular events occurred or not. We analyzed the predictive value of coronary artery noncalcified plaque loading for adverse cardiovascular events in unstable CHD using receiver operating characteristic and multivariate logistics regression analysis.Results: Compared with the control group, the non-calcified plaque volume in the observation group was increased (160.10±44.02 vs. 128.06±42.22 mm 3 , P=0.000); non-calcified plaque loading increased (26.93%±7.98% vs. 21.46%±7.62%, P=0.000); carotid intima-media thickness increased (1.49±0.17 vs. 1.40%±0.18 mm, P=0.001); and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly reduced (53.28%±7.39% vs. 58.02%±7.91%, P=0.000). Non-calcified plaque volume and non-calcified plaque loading have certain diagnostic value for recurrence of adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year (P<0.05). A noncalcified plaque volume >145.58 mm 3 is a risk factor for recurrence of adverse cardiovascular events (P<0.05).Conclusions: Increased non-calcified plaque volume in patients with unstable CHD is associated with the development of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unstable CHD.

The Roles of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Characterizing Coronary Plaque: Screening, Treatment, and Prevention

“…CAP is classified into calcified plaque (CP) and non-calcified plaque (NCP). The non-calcified group is the leading cause of cardiac events since it is mainly composed of cholesterol, making it vulnerable to rupture [ 1 ]. CCTA allows for the characterization of CAP; the composition of the fibroatheroma can be differentiated based on the Hounsfield units (HU) of the CP and NCP.…”