Hepatosteatosis and atherosclerotic plaque at coronary CT angiography

Carter, J. et al. (2022) Hepatosteatosis and atherosclerotic plaque at coronary CT angiography. Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, 4(2), e210260. (doi: 10.1148/ryct.210260) (PMID:35506136) (PMCID:PMC9059242)

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and quantitative atherosclerotic plaque at CT. Materials and Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the prospective Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART trial (November 2010 to September 2014), hepatosteatosis and coronary artery calcium score were measured at noncontrast CT. Presence of stenoses, visually assessed high-risk plaque, and quantitative plaque burden were assessed at coronary CT angiography. Multivariable models were constructed to assess the impact of hepatosteatosis and cardiovascular risk factors on coronary artery disease. Results: Images from 1726 participants (mean age, 58 years ± 9 [SD]; 974 men) were included. Participants with hepatosteatosis (155 of 1726, 9%) had a higher body mass index, more hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and higher cardiovascular risk scores (P < .001 for all) compared with those without hepatosteatosis. They had increased coronary artery calcium scores (median, 43 Agatston units [AU] [interquartile range, 0–273] vs 19 AU [0–225], P = .046), more nonobstructive disease (48% vs 37%, P = .02), and higher low-attenuation plaque burden (5.11% [0–7.16] vs 4.07% [0–6.84], P = .04). However, these associations were not independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Over a median of 4.7 years, there was no evidence of a difference in myocardial infarction between those with and without hepatosteatosis (1.9% vs 2.4%, P = .92). Conclusion: Hepatosteatosis at CT was associated with an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease at CT, but this was not independent of the presence of cardiovascular risk factors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: ** From PubMed via Jisc Publications Router ** History: received 04-10-2021; revised 01-03-2022; accepted 29-03-2022.
• Keywords: Coronary Artery Disease, CT, Hepatosteatosis, Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Plaque Quantification, Cardiac
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Roditi, Dr Giles
• Authors: Carter, J., Heseltine, T. D., Meah, M. N., Tzolos, E., Kwiecinski, J., Doris, M., McElhinney, P., Moss, A. J., Adamson, P. D., Hunter, A., Alam, S., Shah, A. S. V., Pawade, T., Wang, C., Weir-McCall, J. R., Roditi, G., van Beek, E. J. R., Nicol, E. D., Shaw, L. J., Berman, D. S., Slomka, P. J., Mills, N. L., Dweck, M. R., Newby, D. E., Murray, S. W., Dey, D., and Williams, M. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging
• Publisher: Radiology Society of North America
• ISSN: 2638-6135
• ISSN (Online): 2638-6135
• Published Online: 28 April 2022