Objectives To assess the coronary atherosclerosis profile by coronary computed tomography angiogr... more Objectives To assess the coronary atherosclerosis profile by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) due to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) evaluated for liver transplantation (LT), in a retrospective matched case-controlled cohort study. Methods One hundred forty patients (age 60.6 years ± 9.8, 20.7% females) who underwent coronary CTA were included. Seventy patients with ESLD due to ARLD (ESLD-alc) were propensity score (1:1) matched for age, gender, and the major 5 cardiovascular risk factors with healthy controls. CTA analysis included the following: stenosis severity according to CAD-RADS as (0) = no, (1) minimal < 25%, (2) mild 25-50%, (3) moderate 50-70%, and (4) severe > 70% stenosis, total mixed plaque burden weighted for non-calcified component (G-score) and high-risk plaque criteria (Napkin-Ring, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, positive remodeling). Results Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) was high (84.4%) in the ESLD-alc group but similar to controls. Stenosis severity was similar (CAD-RADS, 1.9 vs. 2.2, p = 0.289). High-grade stenosis (> 70%) was observed in 12.5% of ESLD-alc patients. High-risk plaques were less frequent in the ESLD-alc cohort as compared to controls (4.5% vs. 37.5%, p < 0.001), and total mixed plaque burden was lower (G-score, 4.9 versus 7.4, p = 0.001). Plaque density was lower in controls (56.6HU ± 3.2 vs. 91.3HU ± 4.5, p = 0.007) indicating more lipid-rich in controls, but higher mixed fibro-calcific plaque component in those with alcohol-related ESLD. Conclusion Patients with alcohol-related ESLD exhibit more mixed fibro-calcified plaques but less plaque with high-risk features and less fibro-fatty plaque burden, while total CAD prevalence is high. Key Points • Patients with ESLD prior to LT have a high total prevalence of CAD and stenosis severity, which is similar to those of healthy controls with an identical cardiovascular risk profile. • Patients with ESLD prior to LT due to alcohol abuse have more calcific but less fibro-fatty plaque and less high-risk plaque. • CTA seems to be a useful imaging technique for risk stratification prior to LT.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Background. New markers for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) ... more Background. New markers for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are on demand. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association of left atrial appendage (LAA) and left atrium (LA) morphological parameters in patients with cardio-embolic (CE) stroke due to AF in comparison to controls without stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations performed between 2006 and 2017 for clinical indications in 158 patients (median age 65 (54-73) years, 48.7% females) was conducted: 56 patients with CE stroke were compared to 102 controls not differing in gender, body mass index (BMI) and CHA 2 DS 2-VASc score. Results: On multivariable regression analysis adjusted for CHA 2 DS 2-VASc score and LA diameter CE stroke was independently associated with the following parameters: windsock LAA type (OR 2.55; CI: 1.04-6.26, p = 0.041), a greater lobe number (OR 1.54; CI: 1.13-2.10, p = 0.006), a greater LAA ostium area (OR 1.88; CI: 1.38-2.55, p < 0.001) and a greater left atrium wall thickness (LAWT) in the middle and right part, measured along the anterior LA wall in the axial plane (respectively, OR 1.94; CI: 1.26-3.0, p = 0.003 and OR 1.57; CI: 1.07-2.31, p = 0.021). Conclusions: The windsock LAA type, a greater LAA lobe number, a larger LAA ostium and a greater LAWT are associated with CE stroke. These CTA parameters could improve risk stratification for thromboembolic stroke.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Feb 13, 2019
Several types of surgical procedures have shown to elicit an inflammatory stress response, leadin... more Several types of surgical procedures have shown to elicit an inflammatory stress response, leading to substantial cytokine production and formation of oxygen-based or nitrogen-based free radicals. Chronic liver diseases including cancers are almost always characterized by increased oxidative stress, in which hepatic surgery is likely to potentiate at least in the short term and hereby furthermore impair the hepatic redox state. During liver resection, intermittent inflow occlusion is commonly applied to prevent excessive blood loss but resulting ischemia and reperfusion of the liver have been linked to increased oxidative stress, leading to impairment of cell functions and subsequent cell death. In the field of liver transplantation, ischemia/reperfusion injury has extensively been investigated in the last decades and has recently been in the scientific focus again due to increased use of marginal donor organs and new machine perfusion concepts. Therefore, given the intriguing role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases and in the perioperative setting, the interest for a therapeutic antioxidative agent has been present for several years. This review is aimed at giving an introduction to oxidative stress in surgical procedures in general and then examines the role of oxidative stress in liver surgery in particular, discussing both transplantation and resection. Results from studies in the animal and human settings are included. Finally, potential therapeutic agents that might be beneficial in reducing the burden of oxidative stress in hepatic diseases and during surgery are presented. While there is compelling evidence from animal models and a limited number of clinical studies showing that oxidative stress plays a major role in both liver resection and transplantation and several recent studies have suggested a potential for antioxidative treatment in chronic liver disease (e.g., steatosis), the search for effective antioxidants in the field of liver surgery is still ongoing.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Perivascular epicardial adipose tissue (PEAT) has been linked to underlying coronary artery disea... more Perivascular epicardial adipose tissue (PEAT) has been linked to underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) and proposed to modulate adjacent atherosclerotic plaque formation. In vitro and ex vivo studies support bilateral influence of adipose tissue and vessel wall. Therefore, we quantified PEAT volume and composition and its dynamics in a low coronary risk patient cohort with a semi-automate software in serial CT exams. Methods and materials: We retrospectively included 120 patients (27% females) from a tertiary care hospital who underwent serial cardiac CT angiographies with a low cardiovascular risk profile. All coronary CTs were evaluated in a standardized approach: epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and attenuation was quantified in total, in the atrioventricular (RCA, LCX) or interventricular (LAD) sulcus and in a 5mm radius for each coronary artery (PEAT). Coronary plaques were quantified using a semi-automated software and compared to progression, stability of regression between the two scans. The measurements were compared on a perpatient and per-vessel basis between plaque-naïve and diseased vessels. Results: Of 120 patients (32% female), 59.2%) had atherosclerotic plaque formation. After 36 months mean follow-up, 22 (18.3%) showed a CAD regression plaques, 39 (32.5%) had stable coronary arteries and 49 (40.8%) progressive CAD. Total EAT volume decreased by −15.6±37.2 mm 3 in the regressive group, increased by 2.7±30.6mm 3 in the stable group and by 24.3±37.1mm 3 in the progressive CAD group (p=0.003). Per-vessel analysis showed a significant decrease of perivascular EAT attenuation in patients with CAD regression (−3.8±7.6 HU) compared to CAD stable (1.2±9.1 HU) and CAD progressive patients (3.5±8.2 HU, p<0.0001). Mean sulcus EAT attenuation did not show a significant change at follow-up (p=0.135) Conclusion: Epicardial adipose tissue volume is mutually changing with the progression or regression of coronary artery disease. Perivascular but not epicardial attenuation levels correlated to adjacent plaque and support a direct bilateral influence. Change per-vessel-basis (n=360)
Objectives To evaluate the long-term performance of the SonRtip atrial lead. Background To optimi... more Objectives To evaluate the long-term performance of the SonRtip atrial lead. Background To optimize atrioventricular and interventricular timing and thereby potentially improving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) responder rates, a lead integrated technology and a cardioverter/defibrillator-based algorithm measuring peak endocardial acceleration have been introduced. Long-term performance of the atrial lead (SonRtip PS55D, Sorin/MicroPort CRM, Italy) embedded with such a sensor has not been reported so far. Methods Between 2012 and 2018, 143 patients underwent implantation of the SonRtip atrial lead in four Austrian medical centers. Conventional bipolar atrial leads implanted during the same period in 526 patients receiving CRT were used as control cohort. Results Among 669 patients included in the study, 10 (1.5%) showed increased atrial pacing thresholds and/or decreased atrial sensing amplitudes and/or sudden increase in atrial lead impedance (above 3000 Ω) after an uneventful early postoperative period. Seven (70%) of
Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Nov 1, 2021
BACKGROUND The AHA recommends statins in patients with CACS>100 AU. However in patients with l... more BACKGROUND The AHA recommends statins in patients with CACS>100 AU. However in patients with low CACS (1-99 AU), no clear statement is provided, leaving the clinician in a grey-zone. High-risk plaque (HRP) criteria by coronary CTA are novel imaging biomarkers indicating a higher a-priori cardiovascular (CV) risk, which could help for decision-making. Therefore the objective of our study was to identify which CV-risk factors predict HRP in patients with low CACS 1-99. METHODS 1003 symptomatic patients with low-to-intermediate risk, a clinical indication for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and who had a coronary artery calcium score (CACS) between 1 and 99 AU, were enrolled. CCTA analysis included: stenosis severity and HRP-criteria: low-attenuation plaque (LAP <30HU, <60HU and <90HU) napkin-ring-sign, spotty calcification and positive remodeling. Multivariate regression models were created for predicting HRP-criteria by the major 5 cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) (smoking, arterial hypertension, positive family history, dyslipidemia, diabetes) and obesity (BMI>25 kg/m2). RESULTS 304 (33.5%) were smokers. 20.4% of smokers had HRP compared with only 14.9% of non-smokers (p = 0.045). Male gender was associated with HRP (p < 0.001). Smoking but not the other 5 CVRF had the most associations with HRP-criteria (LAP<60HU/≥2 criteria:OR 1.59; 95%CI:1.07-2.35), LAP<90HU (OR 1.57; 95%CI:1.01-2.43), Napkin-Ring-Sign (OR 1.78; 95%CI:1.02-3.1) and positive remodelling (OR 1.54; 95%CI:1.09-2.19). Smoking predicted fibrofatty LAP<90HU in males only. Obesity predicted LAP<60HU in both females and males. CONCLUSIONS In patients with low CACS 1-99AU, male gender, smoking and obesity, but not the other CVRF predict HRP. These patients would rather benefit from intensification of primary CV-prevention measures such as statins.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, May 1, 2019
Background: While exercise has been associated with favorable coronary artery disease (CAD) outco... more Background: While exercise has been associated with favorable coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes, the relationship between endurance exercise levels and CAD findings has not been well explored. Purpose: To evaluate the relationship of endurance exercise to CAD findings by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients referred to CCTA who filled out a survey instrument between 2015 and 2017, and who graded their level of weekly endurance exercise as: none, low (1-2 times per week), moderate (3-5 times per week) or high (5-7 times per week); along with the number of hours per week engaged in exercise as: low (< 30 min), moderate (1 h) or high (> 1-3 h). CCTA: analysis included measurement of maximum per-patient, per-vessel and per-segment stenosis severity, which was judged as minimal (< 25%), mild (< 50%), moderate (50-70%), and severe (> 70%). CAD extent and severity was also summated CADRADS score, plaque burden by segment involvement score (SIS), and noncalcified plaque score (G-score). High-risk plaque (HRP), as defined by the presence of low attenuation plaque, positive arterial remodelling, spotty calcifications and napkin ring signs, was assessed. Finally, coronary artery calcium scores (CCS), as determined by Agatston units, were quantified. Results: The study cohort comprised 252 patients (55.3y ± 10.1, 39.7% females) with 97 inactives, 87 with low and 68 with moderate-to-high recreational endurance exercise levels (> =3x/week ≥ 1 h) included. Prevalence of subclinical CAD was 57.4%. Prevalence of > 50% stenosis was with 13.2% lower at moderate-to-high exercise levels as compared to inactives (p = 0.04). Stenosis severity score (p = 0.04), total (p = 0.036) non-calcified plaque burden were lower (p = 0.026) in athletes, and in the absence of confounding risk factors, the effect strenghtened (SIS and G-score, p = 0.012 and 0.008). There was no difference in the CCS. High-risk plaque prevalence was higher in controls as compared to athletes with moderate-to-high exercise levels (13.4% vs 0%, p = 0.002), and HDL was lower (p < 0.001), respectively. MACE rate was 0%, and ICA rate of > 50% stenosis 3.5% at 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: Regular moderate-to-high endurance exercise results in lower total and non-calcified plaque burden and less high-risk plaque.
Objectives To assess the coronary atherosclerosis profile by coronary computed tomography angiogr... more Objectives To assess the coronary atherosclerosis profile by coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) due to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) evaluated for liver transplantation (LT), in a retrospective matched case-controlled cohort study. Methods One hundred forty patients (age 60.6 years ± 9.8, 20.7% females) who underwent coronary CTA were included. Seventy patients with ESLD due to ARLD (ESLD-alc) were propensity score (1:1) matched for age, gender, and the major 5 cardiovascular risk factors with healthy controls. CTA analysis included the following: stenosis severity according to CAD-RADS as (0) = no, (1) minimal < 25%, (2) mild 25-50%, (3) moderate 50-70%, and (4) severe > 70% stenosis, total mixed plaque burden weighted for non-calcified component (G-score) and high-risk plaque criteria (Napkin-Ring, low attenuation plaque, spotty calcification, positive remodeling). Results Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) was high (84.4%) in the ESLD-alc group but similar to controls. Stenosis severity was similar (CAD-RADS, 1.9 vs. 2.2, p = 0.289). High-grade stenosis (> 70%) was observed in 12.5% of ESLD-alc patients. High-risk plaques were less frequent in the ESLD-alc cohort as compared to controls (4.5% vs. 37.5%, p < 0.001), and total mixed plaque burden was lower (G-score, 4.9 versus 7.4, p = 0.001). Plaque density was lower in controls (56.6HU ± 3.2 vs. 91.3HU ± 4.5, p = 0.007) indicating more lipid-rich in controls, but higher mixed fibro-calcific plaque component in those with alcohol-related ESLD. Conclusion Patients with alcohol-related ESLD exhibit more mixed fibro-calcified plaques but less plaque with high-risk features and less fibro-fatty plaque burden, while total CAD prevalence is high. Key Points • Patients with ESLD prior to LT have a high total prevalence of CAD and stenosis severity, which is similar to those of healthy controls with an identical cardiovascular risk profile. • Patients with ESLD prior to LT due to alcohol abuse have more calcific but less fibro-fatty plaque and less high-risk plaque. • CTA seems to be a useful imaging technique for risk stratification prior to LT.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Background. New markers for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) ... more Background. New markers for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are on demand. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association of left atrial appendage (LAA) and left atrium (LA) morphological parameters in patients with cardio-embolic (CE) stroke due to AF in comparison to controls without stroke. Methods: A retrospective analysis of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations performed between 2006 and 2017 for clinical indications in 158 patients (median age 65 (54-73) years, 48.7% females) was conducted: 56 patients with CE stroke were compared to 102 controls not differing in gender, body mass index (BMI) and CHA 2 DS 2-VASc score. Results: On multivariable regression analysis adjusted for CHA 2 DS 2-VASc score and LA diameter CE stroke was independently associated with the following parameters: windsock LAA type (OR 2.55; CI: 1.04-6.26, p = 0.041), a greater lobe number (OR 1.54; CI: 1.13-2.10, p = 0.006), a greater LAA ostium area (OR 1.88; CI: 1.38-2.55, p < 0.001) and a greater left atrium wall thickness (LAWT) in the middle and right part, measured along the anterior LA wall in the axial plane (respectively, OR 1.94; CI: 1.26-3.0, p = 0.003 and OR 1.57; CI: 1.07-2.31, p = 0.021). Conclusions: The windsock LAA type, a greater LAA lobe number, a larger LAA ostium and a greater LAWT are associated with CE stroke. These CTA parameters could improve risk stratification for thromboembolic stroke.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Feb 13, 2019
Several types of surgical procedures have shown to elicit an inflammatory stress response, leadin... more Several types of surgical procedures have shown to elicit an inflammatory stress response, leading to substantial cytokine production and formation of oxygen-based or nitrogen-based free radicals. Chronic liver diseases including cancers are almost always characterized by increased oxidative stress, in which hepatic surgery is likely to potentiate at least in the short term and hereby furthermore impair the hepatic redox state. During liver resection, intermittent inflow occlusion is commonly applied to prevent excessive blood loss but resulting ischemia and reperfusion of the liver have been linked to increased oxidative stress, leading to impairment of cell functions and subsequent cell death. In the field of liver transplantation, ischemia/reperfusion injury has extensively been investigated in the last decades and has recently been in the scientific focus again due to increased use of marginal donor organs and new machine perfusion concepts. Therefore, given the intriguing role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases and in the perioperative setting, the interest for a therapeutic antioxidative agent has been present for several years. This review is aimed at giving an introduction to oxidative stress in surgical procedures in general and then examines the role of oxidative stress in liver surgery in particular, discussing both transplantation and resection. Results from studies in the animal and human settings are included. Finally, potential therapeutic agents that might be beneficial in reducing the burden of oxidative stress in hepatic diseases and during surgery are presented. While there is compelling evidence from animal models and a limited number of clinical studies showing that oxidative stress plays a major role in both liver resection and transplantation and several recent studies have suggested a potential for antioxidative treatment in chronic liver disease (e.g., steatosis), the search for effective antioxidants in the field of liver surgery is still ongoing.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Perivascular epicardial adipose tissue (PEAT) has been linked to underlying coronary artery disea... more Perivascular epicardial adipose tissue (PEAT) has been linked to underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) and proposed to modulate adjacent atherosclerotic plaque formation. In vitro and ex vivo studies support bilateral influence of adipose tissue and vessel wall. Therefore, we quantified PEAT volume and composition and its dynamics in a low coronary risk patient cohort with a semi-automate software in serial CT exams. Methods and materials: We retrospectively included 120 patients (27% females) from a tertiary care hospital who underwent serial cardiac CT angiographies with a low cardiovascular risk profile. All coronary CTs were evaluated in a standardized approach: epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and attenuation was quantified in total, in the atrioventricular (RCA, LCX) or interventricular (LAD) sulcus and in a 5mm radius for each coronary artery (PEAT). Coronary plaques were quantified using a semi-automated software and compared to progression, stability of regression between the two scans. The measurements were compared on a perpatient and per-vessel basis between plaque-naïve and diseased vessels. Results: Of 120 patients (32% female), 59.2%) had atherosclerotic plaque formation. After 36 months mean follow-up, 22 (18.3%) showed a CAD regression plaques, 39 (32.5%) had stable coronary arteries and 49 (40.8%) progressive CAD. Total EAT volume decreased by −15.6±37.2 mm 3 in the regressive group, increased by 2.7±30.6mm 3 in the stable group and by 24.3±37.1mm 3 in the progressive CAD group (p=0.003). Per-vessel analysis showed a significant decrease of perivascular EAT attenuation in patients with CAD regression (−3.8±7.6 HU) compared to CAD stable (1.2±9.1 HU) and CAD progressive patients (3.5±8.2 HU, p<0.0001). Mean sulcus EAT attenuation did not show a significant change at follow-up (p=0.135) Conclusion: Epicardial adipose tissue volume is mutually changing with the progression or regression of coronary artery disease. Perivascular but not epicardial attenuation levels correlated to adjacent plaque and support a direct bilateral influence. Change per-vessel-basis (n=360)
Objectives To evaluate the long-term performance of the SonRtip atrial lead. Background To optimi... more Objectives To evaluate the long-term performance of the SonRtip atrial lead. Background To optimize atrioventricular and interventricular timing and thereby potentially improving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) responder rates, a lead integrated technology and a cardioverter/defibrillator-based algorithm measuring peak endocardial acceleration have been introduced. Long-term performance of the atrial lead (SonRtip PS55D, Sorin/MicroPort CRM, Italy) embedded with such a sensor has not been reported so far. Methods Between 2012 and 2018, 143 patients underwent implantation of the SonRtip atrial lead in four Austrian medical centers. Conventional bipolar atrial leads implanted during the same period in 526 patients receiving CRT were used as control cohort. Results Among 669 patients included in the study, 10 (1.5%) showed increased atrial pacing thresholds and/or decreased atrial sensing amplitudes and/or sudden increase in atrial lead impedance (above 3000 Ω) after an uneventful early postoperative period. Seven (70%) of
Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, Nov 1, 2021
BACKGROUND The AHA recommends statins in patients with CACS>100 AU. However in patients with l... more BACKGROUND The AHA recommends statins in patients with CACS>100 AU. However in patients with low CACS (1-99 AU), no clear statement is provided, leaving the clinician in a grey-zone. High-risk plaque (HRP) criteria by coronary CTA are novel imaging biomarkers indicating a higher a-priori cardiovascular (CV) risk, which could help for decision-making. Therefore the objective of our study was to identify which CV-risk factors predict HRP in patients with low CACS 1-99. METHODS 1003 symptomatic patients with low-to-intermediate risk, a clinical indication for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and who had a coronary artery calcium score (CACS) between 1 and 99 AU, were enrolled. CCTA analysis included: stenosis severity and HRP-criteria: low-attenuation plaque (LAP <30HU, <60HU and <90HU) napkin-ring-sign, spotty calcification and positive remodeling. Multivariate regression models were created for predicting HRP-criteria by the major 5 cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) (smoking, arterial hypertension, positive family history, dyslipidemia, diabetes) and obesity (BMI>25 kg/m2). RESULTS 304 (33.5%) were smokers. 20.4% of smokers had HRP compared with only 14.9% of non-smokers (p = 0.045). Male gender was associated with HRP (p < 0.001). Smoking but not the other 5 CVRF had the most associations with HRP-criteria (LAP<60HU/≥2 criteria:OR 1.59; 95%CI:1.07-2.35), LAP<90HU (OR 1.57; 95%CI:1.01-2.43), Napkin-Ring-Sign (OR 1.78; 95%CI:1.02-3.1) and positive remodelling (OR 1.54; 95%CI:1.09-2.19). Smoking predicted fibrofatty LAP<90HU in males only. Obesity predicted LAP<60HU in both females and males. CONCLUSIONS In patients with low CACS 1-99AU, male gender, smoking and obesity, but not the other CVRF predict HRP. These patients would rather benefit from intensification of primary CV-prevention measures such as statins.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, May 1, 2019
Background: While exercise has been associated with favorable coronary artery disease (CAD) outco... more Background: While exercise has been associated with favorable coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes, the relationship between endurance exercise levels and CAD findings has not been well explored. Purpose: To evaluate the relationship of endurance exercise to CAD findings by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients referred to CCTA who filled out a survey instrument between 2015 and 2017, and who graded their level of weekly endurance exercise as: none, low (1-2 times per week), moderate (3-5 times per week) or high (5-7 times per week); along with the number of hours per week engaged in exercise as: low (< 30 min), moderate (1 h) or high (> 1-3 h). CCTA: analysis included measurement of maximum per-patient, per-vessel and per-segment stenosis severity, which was judged as minimal (< 25%), mild (< 50%), moderate (50-70%), and severe (> 70%). CAD extent and severity was also summated CADRADS score, plaque burden by segment involvement score (SIS), and noncalcified plaque score (G-score). High-risk plaque (HRP), as defined by the presence of low attenuation plaque, positive arterial remodelling, spotty calcifications and napkin ring signs, was assessed. Finally, coronary artery calcium scores (CCS), as determined by Agatston units, were quantified. Results: The study cohort comprised 252 patients (55.3y ± 10.1, 39.7% females) with 97 inactives, 87 with low and 68 with moderate-to-high recreational endurance exercise levels (> =3x/week ≥ 1 h) included. Prevalence of subclinical CAD was 57.4%. Prevalence of > 50% stenosis was with 13.2% lower at moderate-to-high exercise levels as compared to inactives (p = 0.04). Stenosis severity score (p = 0.04), total (p = 0.036) non-calcified plaque burden were lower (p = 0.026) in athletes, and in the absence of confounding risk factors, the effect strenghtened (SIS and G-score, p = 0.012 and 0.008). There was no difference in the CCS. High-risk plaque prevalence was higher in controls as compared to athletes with moderate-to-high exercise levels (13.4% vs 0%, p = 0.002), and HDL was lower (p < 0.001), respectively. MACE rate was 0%, and ICA rate of > 50% stenosis 3.5% at 1 year follow-up. Conclusion: Regular moderate-to-high endurance exercise results in lower total and non-calcified plaque burden and less high-risk plaque.
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