Positive remodelling of coronary arteries on computed tomography coronary angiogram: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) due to atherosclerosis is projected to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide until 20401. CAD affects approximately 2.6 million people in the United Kingdom (UK), and 1 in 4 of them do not experience any symptoms2. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics and outcomes of patients with plaque features of positive remodelling (PR) on their computed tomography coronary angiogram (CTCA) images. Methods: Patients who were referred for CTCA from June 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patients underwent prospective, gated 128-slice dual-source CTCA. Patients with PR were compared to those without PR for demographics and outcomes. Results: A total of 861 patients were included in our study; 241 (28%) had PR, and 620 (72%) had no PR. Patients with PR were older (PR: 63.9±11.0 years vs no PR: 62.1±11.2 years; p=0.04), more likely to be male (PR: 65.6% vs no PR: 55.8%; p=0.01) and underwent coronary angiography more frequently (PR: 25.7% vs no PR: 14.4%; p<0.01). There were also significant increases in subsequent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) events (PR: 2.5% vs no PR: 0.0%; p<0.01) and the need for revascularisation therapy (PR: 15.4% vs no PR: 7.8%; p<0.01) in patients with PR despite being on statins (not a high dose). There was no difference in all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Detection of PR on CTCA is a reliable prognostic indicator of future cardiovascular events and presents a valuable opportunity for initiation of aggressive primary prevention therapy.