Comparison between Carotid Artery Doppler Ultrasound and Coronary Calcium Score as Predictors of Significant Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Undergoing Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

Abstract Background Cardiovascular illnesses are the leading cause of mortality in the industrialized western world, and they will most likely be the leading cause of death worldwide in the near future. Objective To compare the capability of carotid artery Doppler US and CCS to predict the presence of significant CAD in patients without known cardiovascular disease. Methods This prospective cross sectional study was carried out at Ain Shams University Hospital-Radiology Department within a period of six months on 40 patients the mean age was 48.28 (32-60) with 80% (32) males and only 8 (20%) females. Results HTN and hypercholesterolemia were the commonest morbidities among the patients under study. The most frequent indication for CT angiography was doubtful provocative test in asymptomatic patient (40%). Of the included patients, the percent for presence of carotid artery disease was 30 % with no significant difference (p-value > 0.05) in correlation to demographic data, risk factors and CTCA indications among the studied patients. Presence of carotid artery disease in correlation to IMT, plaque mass, plaque volume among the studied patients revealed highly significant (P-value < 0.01) and there was significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in correlation to CACS and presence of coronary artery disease among the studied patients. Of the included patients, the percent of coronary artery disease was 42.5% with significant difference (p- value < 0.05) in correlation to smoking as a risk factor, yet no significant difference (p-value > 0.05) in correlation to CTCA indications, demographic data, other risk factors among the studied patients. Presence of coronary artery disease in correlation to CACS, plaque mass and plaque volume among the studied patients revealed highly significant difference (p-value < 0.01) and there was significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in correlation to carotid IMT and presence of carotid artery disease among the studied patients. Conclusion Within a period of six months on 40 patients included in our sample, there was a highly significant correlation between diagnosis of coronary artery disease and CACS, plaque mass besides plaque volume and there was a significant correlation with carotid IMT. Also there was a highly significant correlation between diagnosis of carotid artery disease and IMT, plaque mass besides plaque volume and there was a significant correlation with CACS.