Calcium score of the entire thoracic aorta is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients referred to chest computed tomography.

Background: Thoracic arterial calcifications (TAC) are not routinely reported or quantified in chest CT scans. We aimed to evaluate the association between TAC of the entire thoracic aorta and all-cause mortality (ACM) in patients referred to standard chest CT.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive standard chest CT scans (non-gated, non-contrast) for the quantification of TAC, CAC and aortic valve calcification.

Combined aortic valve and coronary artery calcifications in lung cancer screening as predictors of death from cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: Smoking is a major risk factor for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lung cancer. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are both due to atherosclerotic disease. We aim to investigate whether AVC on low-dose CT (LDCT) predicts death from CVD in smokers beyond that provided by CAC.

Recommendations for Implementing Lung Cancer Screening with Low-Dose Computed Tomography in Europe.

Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) was demonstrated in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) to reduce mortality from the disease. European mortality data has recently become available from the Nelson randomised controlled trial, which confirmed lung cancer mortality reductions by 26% in men and 39-61% in women. Recent studies in Europe and the USA also showed positive results in screening workers exposed to asbestos.

[ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION: A POSITION PAPER OF THE ISRAEL HEART SOCIETY].

Prediction of cardiovascular adverse events is challenging. It became apparent that traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors are the cornerstones of the European 10-year CAD risk SCRORE and the Framingham score. However, despite their importance, the prediction value of general assessment tools such as the SCORE and Framingham options in an individual subject is limited, especially in young adults and women.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Hypertensive Patients With Coronary Artery Calcifications.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for CV events. Our aim was to estimate the relative CV risk of LVH in the presence of CAC.

The Association of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and CT Angiography-Verified Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the extent of atherosclerosis on coronary computed tomographic angiography to the extent of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHTS) exposure in asymptomatic never smokers.

Background: A dose-related association between SHTS and coronary artery calcium has been reported, but the total extent of atherosclerosis has not been investigated.

Methods: A total of 268 never smokers, ages 40 to 80 years, completed a questionnaire assessing risk factors and extent of lifetime SHTS exposure, providing a total SHTS exposure score.

Coronary artery calcification in clinical practice: what we have learned and why should it routinely be reported on chest CT?

The recent acceptance of low dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) as a screening modality for early lung cancer detection will significantly increase the number of LDCT among high risk population. The target subjects are at the same time at high risk to develop cardiovascular (CV) events. The routine report on coronary artery calcification (CAC) will therefore, enhances the screening benefit by providing the clinicians with an additive powerful risk stratification tool for the management or primary prevention of CV events.

[ISRAELI GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HYPERLIPIDEMIA - 2014 UPDATE].

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, including in Israel. This document updates the clinical recommendations of the Israeli medical societies (The Society for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis, The Israel Heart Society, The Israel Association of Family Physicians, The Israel Society of Internal Medicine) from 2012. The need for an update stems from new studies and from the 2013 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults.

Coronary artery calcification on low-dose computed tomography: comparison of Agatston and Ordinal Scores.

Objective: To compare Agatston with Ordinal Scores for the extent of coronary artery calcification (coronary artery calcium) using nongated low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans.

Materials And Methods: A total of 631 asymptomatic participants had CT scans from 2010 to 2013. Their Ordinal and Agatston Score were classified into categories.

Coronary artery calcium and exercise electrocardiogram as predictors of coronary events in asymptomatic adults.

Early identification of patients at risk for coronary heart disease is crucial to formulate effective preventive strategies. The elevated risk of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for coronary heart disease is well established. Our aim was to estimate the relative risk of abnormal exercise electrocardiography (Ex ECG) in the presence of CAC.

Serum uric acid is associated with coronary artery calcification.

Uric acid (UA) is associated with atherosclerosis, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis. The authors studied the association between UA and CAC. A total of 663 asymptomatic patients (564 men; mean age, 55±7 years) were evaluated for the presence of CAC.

Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is not associated with masked hypertension in patients with high normal blood pressure levels.

The association between exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise (ExBPR) and "masked hypertension" is unclear. Medical records of patients with high-normal BP who were evaluated in the Chaim Sheba Screening Institute Ramat Gan, Israel, during the years 2002-2007 and referred for 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and exercise test were reviewed. Data on exercise tests performed in the preceding 5 years were retrieved.

Coronary calcium in patients with and without diabetes: first manifestation of acute or chronic coronary events is characterized by different calcification patterns.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is closely related to coronary atherosclerosis. However, less is known about the clinical significance of extensive CAC (ECAC) in regard to types of first coronary events (acute vs. chronic).

Comparison of statin alone versus bezafibrate and statin combination in patients with diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are associated with a high risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) despite statin treatment. The impact of combined bezafibrate and statin therapy in patients with DM and ACS has not been specifically investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of combined therapy with 30-day MACEs in patients with DM participating in the nationwide Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS).

Bezafibrate treatment is associated with a reduced rate of re-hospitalization in smokers after acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Significantly increased rate of hospitalizations in current smokers is a major smoking-related problem which is associated with a heavy economic burden, whereas cardiovascular disease accounted for nearly half of hospitalizations. The effect of bezafibrate on the rate of re-hospitalization in smokers already treated with statin immediately post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate 30-day rate of re-hospitalization in current smokers participating in the ACS Israeli Surveys (ACSIS) and who were treated on discharge with a bezafibrate/statin combination vs.

Progression of coronary artery calcification is associated with long-term cardiovascular events in hypertensive adults.

Objectives: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events in hypertensive adults. However, the additive value of serial CAC measurements for risk stratification is unclear. The aim of the present study was to find whether CAC progression predicts long-term CV events in hypertensive patients.

Second-hand tobacco smoke in never smokers is a significant risk factor for coronary artery calcification.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis measured by coronary artery calcification (CAC) to the extent of second-hand tobacco smoke (SHTS) exposure in asymptomatic people who never smoked.

Background: An association between SHTS and CAC was recently reported in a single study, but the quantitative aspects of the relationship are not known.

Methods: A cohort of 3,098 never smokers 40 to 80 years of age, enrolled in the FAMRI-IELCAP (Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute International Early Lung Cancer Action Program) screening program, completed a SHTS questionnaire, and had a low-dose nongated computed tomography scan.

Coronary artery calcification is associated with the development of hypertension.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC). We hypothesized that preexisting CAC is associated with the development of HTN.

Methods: This study included 483 normotensive subjects (mean age 54 years, 83% males) who underwent a baseline evaluation of their CAC score with ungated dual-section computed tomography during 2001-2002 and returned for at least the first annual follow-up.

Cardiovascular events in patients received combined fibrate/statin treatment versus statin monotherapy: Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys data.

Background: The effect of combination of fibrate with statin on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) hospitalization is unclear. The main aim of this study was to investigate the 30-day rate of MACE in patients who participated in the nationwide ACS Israeli Surveys (ACSIS) and were treated on discharge with a fibrate (mainly bezafibrate) and statin combination vs. statin alone.

Relation of coronary artery calcium to cardiovascular risk in patients with combined diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension.

Certain patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) do not have increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of the present study was to stratify hypertensive adults with DM into those with low or high CV risk according to the absence or presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC). The study group included 423 patients, a subgroup of the 544 participants in the calcification side arm of the International Nifedipine Study: Intervention as Goal for Hypertension Therapy.

[Appropriateness criteria for the use of cardiac computed tomography: position paper of the Israeli Heart Society and the Israeli Society of Radiology].

Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is a relatively new imaging modality which allows high quality imaging of the coronary vessels and various cardiac structures. Together with the advances in scanner technology and the more frequent use of the technology in clinical practice, there is a need to better define the appropriate indications for the use of CCT. This review summarizes the appropriateness criteria for the use of CCT as were defined by a joint committee of the Israeli Heart Society and the Israeli Society of Radiology.

Coronary artery calcification predicts long-term mortality in hypertensive adults.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) predicts mortality in normotensive individuals. We hypothesized that CAC has an impact on long-term mortality in hypertensive patients.

Methods: We followed 423 participants of the INSIGHT (International Nifedipine Study Intervention as Goal for Hypertension Therapy) calcification substudy, for the incidence of mortality as a function of CAC.

Ordinal scoring of coronary artery calcifications on low-dose CT scans of the chest is predictive of death from cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of ordinal scoring of the visual assessment of coronary artery calcification (CAC) on low-dose computed tomographic (CT) scans of the chest in the prediction of cardiovascular death.

Materials And Methods: All participants consented to low-dose CT screening according to an institutional review board-approved protocol. The amount of CAC was assessed on ungated low-dose CT scans of the chest obtained between June 2000 and December 2005 in a cohort of 8782 smokers aged 40-85 years.