Fig 1.
A. Schematic representation of the LM-LAD arteries angle measurements. We identified the lines that delimited the LM-LAD angle, using the centre lines of the LM and LAD arteries on the volume rendering image. B, C. Representative example of mild coronary calcifications in a 69-year-old man. The LM–LAD arteries angle measured 23.9° and the CACS in the LM-LAD arteries was 14.7. D, E. Representative example of severe coronary calcifications in a 63-year-old man. The LM–LAD arteries angle measured 37.1° and the CACS in the LM-LAD arteries was 783. LM = left main artery; LAD = left anterior descending artery; LCX = left circumflex artery.
Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of 82 patients with <200 versus 39 patients with ≥200 coronary artery calcium score (CACS) of the left main (LM)-left anterior descending (LAD) arteries.
Fig 2.
A weak positive correlation between the LM-LAD arteries angle and the CACS of the LM-LAD arteries (r = 0.269; p = 0.003).
Fig 3.
Comparison of diagnostic characteristics in model 1 (hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, eGFR, LM-LAD arteries angle) versus model 2 (hemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, eGFR) to predict severe calcifications of the LM-LAD arteries.
The accuracy of the C statistics in the prediction of a high CACS in the LM-LAD arteries was increased by adding the measurement of the LM-LAD arteries angle (area under the curve = 0.816 in model 1 versus 0.769 in model 2).
Table 2.
Outcomes of single and multiple variable logistic regression analyses of correlates of CACS of the LM-LAD arteries <200 versus ≥200.