High-Risk Coronary Plaques and Carotid Duplex Findings in Asymptomatic Patients Undergoing Primary Prevention Assessment.

ABSTRACT: Subclinical coronary atherosclerosis is common but its biological aggressiveness and interplay with extracoronary disease in asymptomatic individuals remain unclear. We evaluated the prevalence of high-risk coronary plaques (HRPs) and their relationship with mild carotid atherosclerosis and coronary calcium in a cardiovascular (CV) high-risk cohort in primary prevention. This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 269 asymptomatic adults with multiple CV risk factors who underwent Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) after prior carotid duplex ultrasound (CDUS). Coronary artery disease (CAD) was graded as absent, non-obstructive (<50% stenosis) or obstructive (≥50%), and HRPs were identified by ≥1 adverse morphological feature (low attenuation, positive remodeling, napkin-ring

SUBMITTER: Addeo L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12941285 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature