Why the study?
Coronary calcium reflects atherosclerosis burden and adverse cardiac events, but factors associated with the change in Agatston score over time needed to be established.
Age and previous coronary artery disease independently predict an increase in Agatston score over time, whereas a baseline score of zero is protective against subsequent progression.
Background: Coronary calcium shows the atherosclerosis burden in coronary arteries and is associated with adverse cardiac events. Agatston score is the most widely used scoring sys-tem to quantify coronary artery calcium. In this study, we aimed to establish the factors associated with the change in Agatston score in time. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent multiple coronary computerized tomo-graphic angiographies and had Agatston score measurements were included in the study. The change of Agatston score was compared among cardiovascular risk groups. Linear regres-sion model was formed to detect independent variables affecting the change in Agatston score.Results: A total of 126 patients were included in the study. 63 patients had zero baseline Agatston score. Patients with hypertension, diabetes or previous coronary artery disease history had significantly higher Agatston score changes than those without. Age and previous coronary artery disease increased the risk of Agatston score increase over time whereas zero baseline Agatston score decreased the risk.Conclusions: Age and previous coronary artery disease history are independent risk factors for the increase in Agatston score over time. Baseline Agatston score of zero decreases the risk of subsequent increase in Agatston score.
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Şimşek et al. (2021) studied this question.
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