Evaluating the effect of coronary atherosclerosis on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation through coronary computed tomography angiography.

Background: The direct impact of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary vessels on the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients without a history of acute myocardial ischemia, previous myocardial infarction, or revascularization procedures remains largely unknown.

Aims: To assess the risk and predictors of new-onset AF in patients with coronary atherosclerosis confirmed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: We included consecutive patients referred for CCTA who had been observed and diagnosed with new-onset AF over 10 years.

Pre-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Computed Tomography-Based Fractional Flow Reserve Predicts Graft Failure: Implications for Planning Invasive Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether a pre-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) coronary computed tomography-based fractional flow reserve (FFR-CT) result at the site of a future anastomosis would predict the graft failure in patients undergoing CABG.

Methods: In 43 patients who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) prior to the CABG, follow-up CCTA were acquired >12 months post-CABG procedure. The FFR-CT values were simulated on the basis of the pre-CABG CCTA.

Diet and Lifestyle Intervention-Induced Pattern of Weight Loss Related to Reduction in Low-Attenuation Coronary Plaque Burden.

Background: Despite extensive research on body weight and cardiovascular risk, the mechanistic relationship between weight loss and coronary plaque modification has not been adequately addressed. This study aimed to determine the association between body composition dynamics and low-attenuation coronary plaque (LAP) burden.

Methods: Eighty-nine participants (40% women, 60 ± 7.

Coronary Artery Calcium Score Predicts Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Stable Chest Pain.

Background Coronary artery calcium (CAC) has prognostic value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in asymptomatic individuals, whereas its role in symptomatic patients is less clear. Purpose To assess the prognostic value of CAC scoring for MACE in participants with stable chest pain initially referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Materials and Methods This prespecified subgroup analysis from the Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients With Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) trial, conducted between October 2015 and April 2019 across 26 centers in 16 countries, focused on adult patients with stable chest pain referred for ICA.

Age and Computed Tomography and Invasive Coronary Angiography in Stable Chest Pain: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of the DISCHARGE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effectiveness and safety of computed tomography (CT) and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) in different age groups is unknown.

Objective: To determine the association of age with outcomes of CT and ICA in patients with stable chest pain.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The assessor-blinded Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients With Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) randomized clinical trial was conducted between October 2015 and April 2019 in 26 European centers.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Effectiveness of CT versus Invasive Coronary Angiography in Stable Chest Pain: The DISCHARGE Trial.

Background Recent trials support the role of cardiac CT in the evaluation of symptomatic patients suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD); however, body mass index (BMI) has been reported to negatively impact CT image quality. Purpose To compare initial use of CT versus invasive coronary angiography (ICA) on clinical outcomes in patients with stable chest pain stratified by BMI category. Materials and Methods This prospective study represents a prespecified BMI subgroup analysis of the multicenter Diagnostic Imaging Strategies for Patients with Stable Chest Pain and Intermediate Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (DISCHARGE) trial conducted between October 2015 and April 2019.

Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived Scores for Prediction of Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using the Hybrid Algorithm.

Whereas coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exceeds invasive angiography for predicting the procedural outcome of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CCTA-derived scores have never been validated in the hybrid CTO PCI population. In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we included 108 consecutive patients with 110 CTO lesions and preprocedural CCTA who underwent hybrid CTO PCI to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CCTA-derived scoring systems. Successful guidewire crossing within 30 min was set as the primary endpoint.

Computed tomographic characteristics of congenital coronary artery fistulas in an adult population.

Background: Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are usually congenital coronary artery anomalies of termination.

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, anatomic characteristics, and clinical significance of CAFs detected by computed tomography (CT) in an adult population.

Methods: We performed 45 817 CT examinations in 39 066 subjects between 2008 and 2020.

Computed Tomography Versus Invasive Coronary Angiography in Patients With Diabetes and Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: To compare cardiac computed tomography (CT) with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as the initial strategy in patients with diabetes and stable chest pain.

Research Design And Methods: This prespecified analysis of the multicenter DISCHARGE trial in 16 European countries was performed in patients with stable chest pain and intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease. The primary end point was a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke), and the secondary end point was expanded MACE (including transient ischemic attacks and major procedure-related complications).

Identification of noncalcified coronary plaque characteristics using machine learning radiomic analysis of non-contrast high-resolution computed tomography.

Background: Novel imaging and analysis techniques may offer the ability to detect noncalcified or high-risk coronary plaques on a non-contrast computer tomography (CT) scan, advancing cardiovascular diagnostics.

Aims: We aimed to explore whether machine learning (ML) radiomic analysis of low-dose high-resolution non-contrast electrocardiographically (ECG) gated cardiac CT scan allows for the identification of noncalcified coronary plaque characteristics.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 125 patients with noncalcified plaques and adverse plaque characteristics (APC) and 25 controls without visible atherosclerosis on coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Computed tomography perfusion and angiography in patients with chronic total occlusion undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background And Aims: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and anatomical imaging with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can play an important role in the preprocedural planning of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to establish the feasibility of a novel dynamic computed tomography perfusion (CTP) analysis for the assessment of myocardial perfusion before and after a successful recanalization of CTO in patients undergoing CCTA as part of a standard preprocedural workup.

Methods: In a prospective observational study symptomatic patients underwent dynamic CTP on a dual-source CT scanner both before and 3 months after successful CTO PCI.

Pericoronary adipose tissue density is increased in patients with recent spontaneous coronary dissection.

Objective: Inflammatory activity is one of the potential mechanisms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Recently, the pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation (PCAT) derived from CT angiography (CTA) has been established as a method for measuring vascular inflammation. We aimed to characterise the pancoronary and vessel-specific PCAT in patients with and without recent SCAD.

Assessment of consistency in aortic valve sizing between surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Introduction: One of the crucial aspects of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the valve prosthesis selection.

Aim: To assess the consistency of the aortic valve sizing in SAVR and TAVR by comparing the sizes of aortic prostheses selected based on the intraprocedural annulus measurements and simulation of the TAVR planning.

Material And Methods: The study comprised of 167 patients with aortic stenosis treated with SAVR.

Atherosclerosis Imaging Quantitative Computed Tomography (AI-QCT) to guide referral to invasive coronary angiography in the randomized controlled CONSERVE trial.

Aims: We compared diagnostic performance, costs, and association with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of clinical coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) interpretation versus semiautomated approach that use artificial intelligence and machine learning for atherosclerosis imaging-quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT) for patients being referred for nonemergent invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Methods: CCTA data from individuals enrolled into the randomized controlled Computed Tomographic Angiography for Selective Cardiac Catheterization trial for an American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guideline indication for ICA were analyzed. Site interpretation of CCTAs were compared to those analyzed by a cloud-based software (Cleerly, Inc.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with significant coronary artery disease newly diagnosed by computed tomography coronary angiography.

Background: The Current European Society of Cardiology guidelines indicate specific target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels for different cardiovascular risk categories in terms of prevention. However, the target for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides has not been established.

Aim: The study aims to investigate the associations betweenHDL-C,triglycerides, andcoronary plaque characteristics.

Benefits of the selective invasive strategy guided by CTA and CTA-derived fractional flow reserve in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) has high diagnostic accuracy in ruling out significant stenosis of coronary arteries. The additional use of CTA- derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) further enhances diagnostic utility of coronary CTA. Some patients interrogated non-invasively have diseased coronary arteries and undergo further diagnostic testing, including invasive coronary angiography (ICA).

Incidence and Predictors of Clinically Significant Bleedings after Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

Background: Transcatheter left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is performed in patients unsuitable for long-term anticoagulation, predominantly due to prior bleeding events. The study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of clinically significant bleeding (CSB) post-LAAC.

Methods: Consecutive patients after LAAC with an Amplatzer or WATCHMAN device were analyzed (05.