Aspirin and statin use in primary prevention after coronary artery calcium score

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction A coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of more than 100 places the 10-year cardiovascular risk above 7.5%, justifying the initiation of pharmacological measures in primary prevention. Purpose The present study explores the level of implementation of a primary prevention strategy after CAC score in patients without obstructive coronary disease. Methods The study cohort included all patients from the health area of our city (Galicia, Spain) who underwent a coronary computed tomography (CT) scan between July 2021 and February 2022. Subjects with obstructive coronary disease (CADRADS 3 or higher), atrial fibrillation patients and inconclusive studies were excluded. The final population of the study consisted of 209 patients. The sample was classified according to Agatston Score into three groups: no calcification (CAC=0), non-significant (CAC 1-100), and significant calcification (CAC >101). Multinomial and binomial logistic regression were performed to identify the predictors associated with the prescription of statin and aspirin, respectively. Results 41 patients (19.62%) had significant calcification (CAC >101). Of those, 16 (39.02%) started aspirin and 21 (51.22%) started statin (Figure 1). The CAC score allowed to increase the percentage of patients who benefited from lipid-lowering treatment, from 31.70% to 82.92% (Figure 2). Significant differences were observed in the proportion of patients who initiated aspirin and statins according to the degree of coronary calcification (Chi2 18.76; p=0.000), (Chi2 48.42; p=0.000) respectively. After multivariate adjustment, a CAC score >100 (OR 5.88 (2.29-15.07; p=0.000) and the presence of vulnerable plaque (OR 6.78 (1.01-47.46; p=0.050) were the only predictos which led clinicians to start antiplatelet therapy. Neither age, nor SIS (segment involvement score) were associated. Regarding to lipid-lowering therapy, CAC score 1-100 (OR 5.87 (1.68-20.51; p=0.006) and CAC score >100 (OR 30.78 (5.08-186.47; p=0.000) were independently associated with statin prescription. Conclusions The use of coronary CT allows optimization of the therapeutic strategy in primary prevention, increasing the percentage of patients who may benefit from statins. In this setting, aspirin is little established in our cohort. Therefore, we should transmit to the clinician the possibility of starting antiplatelet therapy, individualizing the indication.