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Published in: Cardiovascular Ultrasound 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Cardiac calcium score on 2D echo: correlations with cardiac and coronary calcium at multi-detector computed tomography

Authors: Nicola Gaibazzi, Chiara Baldari, Pompilio Faggiano, Lisa Albertini, Giacomo Faden, Filippo Pigazzani, Cristina Rossi, Claudio Reverberi

Published in: Cardiovascular Ultrasound | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

To test the hypothesis that a semi-quantitative echocardiographic calcium score (eCS) significantly correlates with cardiac calcium measured by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and, secondarily, severe coronary artery calcifications and stenosis.

Methods

This is a retrospective, observational study, conducted in a tertiary centre. eCS was compared with CCTA scores of non-coronary cardiac calcium (nCACS), coronary cardiac calcium (CACS) and number of diseased coronary vessels, in 141 subjects without known coronary artery disease (CAD), who underwent both echocardiography and CCTA for clinical reasons.

Results

Age, prevalence of hypertension and all measures of calcium (eCS, nCACS and CACS) differed significantly between the no-CAD and CAD subgroups. eCS was positively correlated with nCACS (Spearman rho = 0.64, p < 0.0001), CACS (rho = 0.46, p < 0.01) and weakly with the number of diseased coronary vessels (rho = 0.28, p < 0.05). eCS and nCACS had similar area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of severe CACS (≥400) (0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.86 and 0.79, 95% CI 0.72-0.88) or obstructive CAD (0.63, 95% CI 0.54-0.72 and 0.63, 95% CI 0.55-0.73).

Conclusions

eCS, a calcium score easily obtainable during standard echocardiography, is moderately to strongly correlated with nCACS by CCTA. The full eCS score correlates with nCACS better than its single components. It correlates with CACS and predicts severe coronary calcification (CACS > 400), a known predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The eCS also predicts obstructive CAD, incrementally to age and clinical variables, although for this purpose CACS remains the most accurate score.
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Metadata
Title
Cardiac calcium score on 2D echo: correlations with cardiac and coronary calcium at multi-detector computed tomography
Authors
Nicola Gaibazzi
Chiara Baldari
Pompilio Faggiano
Lisa Albertini
Giacomo Faden
Filippo Pigazzani
Cristina Rossi
Claudio Reverberi
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cardiovascular Ultrasound / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1476-7120
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-7120-12-43

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