Short-term impact of cardiovascular screening by traditional risk assessment or coronary artery calcium score on health-related quality of life: the ROBINSCA trial.

Aims: Evidence on the impact of screening for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for policy decisions about screening implementation and to uncover teachable moments to motivate healthy lifestyle choices. It is unknown whether screening by cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan has a stronger impact on HRQoL than screening by traditional risk prediction models. The study aims to investigate differences in HRQoL across the screening process between participants who were randomized to CVD risk estimation by coronary artery calcium score or Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation.

Addition of FFRct in the diagnostic pathway of patients with stable chest pain to reduce unnecessary invasive coronary angiography (FUSION) : Rationale and design for the multicentre, randomised, controlled FUSION trial.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is widely used in the diagnostic work-up of patients with stable chest pain. CCTA has an excellent negative predictive value, but a moderate positive predictive value for detecting coronary stenosis. Computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFRct) is a non-invasive, well-validated technique that provides functional assessment of coronary stenosis, improving the positive predictive value of CCTA.

Coronary calcium scoring as first-line test to detect and exclude coronary artery disease in patients presenting to the general practitioner with stable chest pain: protocol of the cluster-randomised CONCRETE trial.

Introduction: Identifying and excluding coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with atypical angina pectoris (AP) and non-specific thoracic complaints is a challenge for general practitioners (GPs). A diagnostic and prognostic tool could help GPs in determining the likelihood of CAD and guide patient management. Studies in outpatient settings have shown that the CT-based coronary calcium score (CCS) has high accuracy for diagnosis and exclusion of CAD.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Coronary Calcium Scoring in Stable Chest Pain Patients: A Narrative Review.

Background: Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scanning allows for reliable coronary calcium score (CCS) calculation at a low radiation dose and has been well established as marker to assess the future risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) events in asymptomatic individuals. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value in symptomatic patients remains a matter of debate. This narrative review focuses on the available evidence for CCS in patients with stable chest pain complaints.

Early detection of obstructive coronary artery disease in the asymptomatic high-risk population: objectives and study design of the EARLY-SYNERGY trial.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) burden for society is expected to steeply increase over the next decade. Improved feasibility and efficiency of preventive strategies is necessary to flatten the curve. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the main determinant of CAD-related mortality and morbidity, and predominantly occurs in individuals with more advanced stages of CAD causing subclinical myocardial ischemia (obstructive CAD; OCAD).