| J Hypertens 22:605-610, 2004 |
|
| Coronary calcium by spiral computed tomography predicts cardiovascular
events in high-risk hypertensive patients |
|
| Shemesh J, Morag-Koren N, Goldbourt U, Grossman E, Tenenbaum A, Fisman
EZ, Apter S, Itzchak Y, Motro M |
|
| Grace Ballas Research Unit of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute,
Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer and, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,
Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. |
|
| OBJECTIVE: The ability of coronary artery calcium (CAC) to predict
coronary events has been shown in several studies. We aimed to investigate
the hypothesis that CAC as assessed by dual slice spiral computed tomography
(DSCT), is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in
hypertensive patients. METHODS: We followed 446 participants of INSIGHT
(International Nifedipine Study Intervention as Goal for Hypertension
Therapy) calcification study, for the incidence of cardiovascular events
as a function of CAC and other factors. All were hypertensive, without
coronary artery disease (CAD), ages > 55 years and with at least
one more major cardiovascular risk factor. All underwent a baseline
DSCT and were followed for a mean period of 3.8 +/- 0.4 years. All
events were documented while the scheduled visits and confirmed by
the INSIGHT critical event committee. RESULTS: Follow-up was conducted
on all participants. 294 patients (66%) had CAC at baseline. Forty-seven
patients experienced a first cardiovascular event: acute myocardial
infarction (MI), 16; sudden cardiac death, two; unstable angina resulting
in revascularization, 14; stroke, 15. The incidence of first cardiovascular
events was 3.7 times higher among those who had CAC at baseline than
among those who had no CAC (14.5% (41 of 294) versus 3.9% (6 of 152)).
Patients who experienced an event were more likely to be males, had
had higher prevalence of peripheral vascular disease, longer duration
of hypertension, and had higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP),
glucose, creatinine and uric acid. Adjusting for these covariates,
CAC (total coronary calcium score (TCS) > 0) independently predicted
cardiovascular events with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.76 [95% confidence
interval (CI) 1.09-6.99, P = 0.032]. CONCLUSION: The presence of CAC
predicts cardiovascular events in high-risk asymptomatic hypertensive
patients. |