Cardiac computed tomography in patients with symptomatic new-onset atrial fibrillation, rule-out acute coronary syndrome, but with intermediate pretest probability for coronary artery disease admitted to a chest pain unit

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Radiologically Detected Coronary Artery Disease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Rationale: Unrecognized coronary artery disease (CAD) may contribute to adverse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Improved identification of at-risk groups could inform better preventive care. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the burden and relationships of radiologically detectable CAD in COPD, establish the frequency of occult disease, and examine potential cardiovascular screening methods. Methods: Using computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography, we prospectively evaluated CAD in 50 patients with COPD compared with age- and sex-matched controls. In those with COPD, the relationship of CAD to cardiac symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea), functional capacity (6-minute-walk distance), exacerbations, and inflammation was assessed. The performance of screening tests (cardiovascular risk scores, biomarkers, and thoracic CT-derived coronary artery calcium score) were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Measurements and Main Results: CAD was present in 88% of patients with COPD (42% had obstructive [⩾50% stenosis of any vessel] and 28% severely obstructive [⩾70%] disease). Rates of obstructive (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1-8.9; P = 0.037) and severely obstructive CAD (OR, 10.1; 95% CI, 1.9-52.7; P = 0.006) were higher in those with COPD than in controls. In the COPD group, those with CAD had greater functional impairments but not greater dyspnea scores, and 75% reported no chest pain or prior ischemic heart disease. CAD was more extensive in those with increased systemic inflammation (fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte and neutrophil counts), bronchial wall thickening, and sputum bacterial growth but bore no relation to exacerbation frequency. The thoracic CT-derived coronary artery calcium score was an effective screening tool, with areas under the curve of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.95-1.00) for CAD and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.79-1.00) for obstructive CAD. Conclusions: CT coronary angiography-detected CAD is common in patients with COPD but correlates poorly with symptoms and conventional risk scores. Radiological screening with standard (non ECG-gated) CT of the thorax might improve detection and outcome in this patient group.

Coronary artery disease in atrial fibrillation ablation: impact on arrhythmic outcomes

AIMS

Catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). A computed tomography (CT) may be performed before ablation to evaluate the anatomy of pulmonary veins. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by cardiac CT scan pre-ablation and to evaluate the impact of CAD and revascularization on outcomes after AF ablation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All consecutive patients with AF diagnosis, hospitalized at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, between 2015 and 2019, were prospectively screened for enrolment in the study. Inclusion criteria were (i) AF diagnosis, (ii) first procedure of AF ablation with cryoballoon CA, and (iii) contrast CT scan performed pre-ablation. A total of 576 consecutive patients were prospectively included and analysed in this study. At CT scan, 122 patients (21.2%) were diagnosed with CAD, of whom 41 patients (7.1%) with critical CAD. At survival analysis, critical CAD at CT scan was a predictor of atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) recurrence during the follow-up, only in Cox univariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.79] but was not an independent predictor in Cox multivariate analysis. At Cox multivariate analysis, independent predictors of AT recurrence were as follows: persistent AF (HR = 2.93) and left atrium volume index (HR = 1.04).

CONCLUSION

In patients undergoing CT scan before AF ablation, critical CAD was diagnosed in 7.1% of patients. Coronary artery disease and revascularization were not independent predictors of recurrence; thus, in this patient population, AF ablation should not be denied and can be performed together with CAD treatment.

High incidence of newly diagnosed obstructive coronary artery disease regardless of chest pain detected on pre-procedural cardiac computed tomography angiography in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation

BACKGROUND

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is often performed before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation to map atrial and pulmonary anatomy. Incident coronary artery disease (CAD) may also be diagnosed during cardiac CT angiography (CTA). Our aim was to assess whether coronary CTA might be able to identify a significant proportion of patients with obstructive CAD prior to their catheter ablation procedure event, even in asymptomatic patients.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing pre-ablation coronary CTA for atrial fibrillation between 2013 and 2020 were retrospectively selected. Patients with previously diagnosed CAD were excluded. Obstructive CAD was defined as ≥50% luminal stenosis. We analyzed the relationship between obstructive CAD, any chest pain, and traditional risk factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 2321 patients [median age 63.0 (54.4-69.2), 1052/2321 (45.3%) female] underwent coronary CTA and 488/2321 (21.0%) were diagnosed with obstructive CAD. There was no difference regarding the rate of obstructive CAD in patients with any chest pain compared to patients without any chest pain [91/404 (22.5%) vs. 397/1917 (20.7%), P = 0.416, respectively). The following parameters were associated with obstructive CAD: age > 65 years [odds ratio (OR) = 2.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.02-3.13; P < 0.001), male sex (OR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.28-1.98; P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.08-1.81; P = 0.012), diabetes (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.13-1.99; P = 0.006), dyslipidaemia (OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.07-1.66; P = 0.011) and history of smoking (OR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07-1.68; P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of obstructive CAD even in patients without chest pain highlights the importance of additional coronary artery diagnostics in patients undergoing left atrial CTA awaiting catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. These patients regardless of chest pain thus may require further risk modification to decrease their potential ischemic and thromboembolic risk.

Diagnostic role of coronary CT angiography in paroxysmal or first diagnosed atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES

The presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients hospitalised with paroxysmal or first diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) has major implications for antithrombotic therapy and cardiovascular event rate. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a feasible tool to identify patients with concealed CAD. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of early CCTA in patients hospitalised with paroxysmal or first diagnosed AF.

METHODS

In a 5-year single-centre retrospective analysis, 566 patients with paroxysmal or first diagnosed AF who underwent CCTA were enrolled to investigate the presence of CAD.

RESULTS

In patients with paroxysmal or first diagnosed AF, CCTA revealed CAD (coronary artery stenosis ≥50%) in 39.2%. Cardiac catheterisation was performed in 31.6%, confirming CAD in 13.1% of all patients. In 8.0% percutaneous coronary intervention and in 0.5% coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. In patients with paroxysmal or first diagnosed AF: (1) angina pectoris per se does not predict CAD; (2) multivariable regression analysis revealed age, male sex and diabetes as risk factors for CAD in AF; (3) Framingham Risk Score for coronary heart disease and CHA2DS2-VASc-Score were relevant risk scores of CAD and (4) the classification of Coronary Artery Calcium score reference values according to the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis was a predictor of CAD.

CONCLUSION

Patients with paroxysmal or first diagnosed AF are at risk for CAD, while CCTA is a feasible diagnostic tool for CAD. We recommend to integrate CT calcium scoring and CCTA into the diagnostic workup of patients with new-onset or paroxysmal AF.