A comprehensive, contemporary assessment of the association between hepatosteatosis and coronary artery calcium scoring
Authors: Heseltine T , Murray SW , Jones RL , Fisher M , Ruzsics B 
Published: February 2021

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

onbehalf

Liverpool Multiparametric Imaging Collaboration

Background

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is a well-established technique for stratifying an individual’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Several well-established registries have incorporated CAC scoring into CVD risk prediction models to enhance accuracy. Hepatosteatosis (HS) has been shown to be an independent predictor of CVD events and can be measured on non-contrast computed tomography (CT). We sought to undertake a contemporary, comprehensive assessment of the influence of HS on CAC score alongside traditional CVD risk factors. In patients with HS it may be beneficial to offer routine CAC screening to evaluate CVD risk to enhance opportunities for earlier primary prevention strategies.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational analysis at a high-volume cardiac CT centre analysing consecutive CT coronary angiography (CTCA) studies. All patients referred for investigation of chest pain over a 28-month period (June 2014 to November 2016) were included. Patients with established CVD were excluded. The cardiac findings were reported by a cardiologist and retrospectively analysed by two independent radiologists for the presence of HS. Those with CAC of zero and those with CAC greater than zero were compared for demographic and cardiac risks. A multivariate analysis comparing the risk factors was performed to adjust for the presence of established risk factors. A binomial logistic regression model was developed to assess the association between the presence of HS and increasing strata of CAC.

Results

In total there were 1499 patients referred for CTCA without prior evidence of CVD. The assessment of HS was completed in 1195 (79.7%) and CAC score was performed in 1103 (92.3%). There were 466 with CVD and 637 without CVD. The prevalence of HS was significantly higher in those with CVD versus those without CVD on CTCA (51.3% versus 39.9%, p = 0.007). Male sex (50.7% versus 36.1% p= &lt;0.001), age (59.4 ± 13.7 versus 48.1 ± 13.6, p= &lt;0.001) and diabetes (12.4% versus 6.9%, p = 0.04) were also significantly higher in the CAC group compared to the CAC score of zero.

HS was associated with increasing strata of CAC score compared with CAC of zero (CAC score 1-100 OR1.47, p = 0.01, CAC score 101-400 OR:1.68, p = 0.02, CAC score &gt;400 OR 1.42, p = 0.14). This association became non-significant in the highest strata of CAC score.

Conclusion

We found a significant association between the increasing age, male sex, diabetes and HS with the presence of CAC. HS was also associated with a more severe phenotype of CVD based on the multinomial logistic regression model. Although the association reduced for the highest strata of CAC (CAC score &gt;400) this likely reflects the overall low numbers of patients within this group and is likely a type II error.

Based on these findings it may be appropriate to offer routine CVD risk stratification techniques in all those diagnosed with HS.