Atherosclerosis Burden and Progression on Imaging and Associated Mortality in Asymptomatic Patients

Any atherosclerotic plaque is bad, and its presence portends a worse prognosis if modifiable risk factors like hypertension and smoking are not addressed.

Noninvasive quantitative imaging of subclinical atherosclerosis has improved cardiovascular risk predictions. The current researchers used data from the U.S. BioImage study to evaluate how atherosclerotic burden and progression affect all-cause mortality in asymptomatic patients. Approximately 5700 participants without cardiovascular disease histories (mean age, 69; 58% women; mostly white) underwent vascular ultrasound to quantify carotid plaque burden (cPB, the sum of right and left carotid plaque areas) and coronary-artery calcium scoring (CAC). Participants were separated into tertiles by cPB and CAC.

Roughly 88% of patients had baseline subclinical atherosclerosis; 58% had both carotid and coronary involvement. Over a median follow-up o…

Reviewing Author

Shea E. Hogan, MD, MSCS, FACC, FSCAI, FSVM

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsVascular Medicine

Shea E. Hogan, MD, MSCS, FACC, FSCAI, FSVM

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsVascular Medicine

Atherosclerosis Burden and Progression on Imaging and Associated Mortality in Asymptomatic Patients

Topics

Reviewing Author