Application of computed tomography angiography imaging in coronary heart disease screening and analysis of associated risk factors.

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early detection and risk stratification are crucial for effective management. This study evaluates the efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in CHD screening and analyses its correlation with traditional risk factors in an asymptomatic population.

METHODS

This study focused on 1,000 patients aged 40-80 years who visited two comprehensive tertiary hospitals in the region between January 2020 and December 2022. Patients with a history of coronary revascularisation, arrhythmia or poor image quality were excluded. CTA was used to assess the coronary artery calcium score (CACS), stenosis severity, plaque characteristics and myocardial perfusion and function. These parameters were analysed alongside traditional risk factors (e.g., age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels, smoking status and family history) using logistic regression to determine their correlation with CHD.

RESULTS

This study found a significant correlation between the CACS and CHD severity. CTA results showed that 41.2% of patients had normal results, 28.8% had mild CHD, 20.0% had moderate CHD and 10.0% had severe CHD. Traditional risk factors were independently associated with CHD. Myocardial perfusion and function parameters also correlated significantly with CTA findings, declining progressively with increasing CHD severity.

CONCLUSIONS

CTA provides a comprehensive assessment of CHD, correlating significantly with traditional risk factors and myocardial functional parameters. Its use in screening could facilitate the early detection and tailored management of CHD in asymptomatic individuals. Further research is warranted to establish its predictive value for long-term cardiovascular outcomes.