Comprehensive evaluation of coronary arteries by multidetector-row cardiac computed tomography according to the glucose level of asymptomatic individuals

BACKGROUND: Early detection of atherosclerosis in individuals with diabetes is important because of high cardiovascular mortality in this population. We performed multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in asymptomatic individuals to investigate the status of coronary artery stenosis and plaque characteristics depending on the glucose level. METHODS AND RESULTS: The plaque burden (number of diseased coronary segments), severity of stenosis, plaques characteristics, and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were assessed by MDCT in 1043 asymptomatic individuals. Anthropometric parameters and metabolic profiles were also acquired. Twenty-one percents of subjects had plaques and 5% had significant stenosis. Mean (+/-S.D.) CACS of study population was 17+/-81. Subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG, n=215, 21%) or diabetes (n=112, 11%) had a greater plaque burden, more coronary stenosis (>50% of diameter stenosis) and higher CACS than normal subjects (all, p