Biomarkers and their relative contributions to identifying coronary artery stenosis based on coronary computed tomography angiography in asymptomatic adults.

Abstract

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has emerged as an important, non-invasive imaging modality for the assessment of coronary vascular disease. However, CCTA as a screening tool still has issues with radiation exposure and cost in asymptomatic adults. In this study, we investigated the relationship between cardio-metabolic biomarkers and coronary artery stenosis on CCTA in asymptomatic, apparently healthy adults.Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from 306 subjects who underwent a comprehensive medical check-up including CCTA. A 128-slice CT device was used to detect earlier stages of coronary stenosis, which was defined as > 25% luminal reduction in the most severe stenosis in the calcified segments of the coronary arteries.On multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, only γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was significantly and independently associated with CCTA stenosis (OR 1.006, 95% CI 1.001-1.011, P = .026). In a subgroup analysis of 103 subjects with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) data, baPWV was significantly associated with CCTA stenosis (OR 1.005; 95% CI 1.003-1.008, P < .001).GGT and baPWV were associated independently with the presence of CCTA stenosis in apparently healthy adults. Further research is needed to re-confirm on these findings.