RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS LEVEL DETECTED IN CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY AND PROGNOSTIC NUTRITION INDEX

OBJECTIVE: Early risk prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events in individuals with suspected coronary heart disease may help prevent major adverse events. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a crucial examination for its ability to identify coronary atherosclerosis, assess plaque morphology, and predict the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The Prognostic Nutrition Index (PNI), derived from lymphocyte count and serum albumin levels, is a marker reflecting both the immunological and inflammatory status of an individual based on serum albumin and lymphocyte values. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the degree of coronary artery disease detected by coronary CTA and the Prognostic Nutrition Index in predicting the risk of MACE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All data from 484 patients who underwent coronary CTA were retrospectively analyzed. The degree of coronary artery stenosis was classified as less than 50%, 50%-70% stenosis, and greater than 70%. Blood analyses of the patients included in the study were reviewed, and PNI was calculated using the formula = 10 x serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 x total lymphocyte count (per mm3). In our study, patients who had mortality within 1 year of CTA and who had a CVA or MI was divided into two groups based on whether they developed MACE. The development of MACE was compared with the degree of coronary artery stenosis on CTA, albumin levels, and PNI. RESULTS: The parameters that showed significant differences in the development of MACE were age, albumin, and PNI levels when comparing the degree of coronary artery stenosis and biomarkers on CTA. Our study demonstrated a significant negative correlation between PNI and the development of MACE, indicating that each unit increase in PNI reduces the risk of MACE by approximately 10.5%. Coronary CTA found a significant association with the development of MACE at 1 year for all degrees of stenosis, particularly in the left anterior desending artery (LAD) . The association was even more pronounced for stenoses of 50% or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary CTA provides a significant contribution to the risk estimation of MACE, enabling early diagnosis and preventive intervention to improve the prognosis of the target population. CTA findings and biochemical markers should be evaluated together in predicting the risk of MACE; nutritional status, in particular, should not be overlooked in risk management. The findings emphasize the need for a holistic approach to estimating the potential risk of MACE.