Lipid-rich plaques detected by near-infrared spectroscopy predict coronary events irrespective of age: A Lipid Rich Plaque sub-study. 

 -  2021 
<br/><br/> BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In this Lipid Rich Plaque (LRP) sub-study, 1551 patients undergoing coronary angiography for acute coronary syndromes or stable angina were examined with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). We aimed to assess the correlation of patient age with the presence of high-risk plaques, defined as maximum 4-mm Lipid Core Burden Index (maxLCBI4mm) >400 and plaque burden >70%, and 2-year incidence of non-culprit major adverse cardiovascular events (NC-MACE).  CONCLUSIONS: Lipid-rich plaques were as frequent in older as in younger patients and predicted a higher incidence of NC-MACE over 2-year follow-up irrespective of age. Copyright (c) 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.  METHODS: The study population was divided into four groups according to age: <50 years (122), 50-64 years (700), 65-74 years (502), and >=75 years (227). The primary outcome was NC-MACE from index procedure to event or the end of the study. Cox regression and mixed-effects Cox regression models were used to assess the effect of age on the association between LCBI and NC-MACE at the patient and plaque levels.  RESULTS: Average maxLCBI4mm and percentage of patients with at least one segment with maxLCBI4mm > 400 were similar across the four age groups at both the patient and coronary segment levels. Having at least one segment with maxLCBI4mm > 400 was strongly associated with NC-MACE, and that association did not differ significantly across age subgroups. Although less common (prevalence of 0.8%-1.3%), a similar trend toward greater NC-MACE rates was seen in patients with plaque burden >70% at the maximum LCBI site across age subgroups. 
<br/><br/><br/>English 
<br/><br/><label>ISSN: </label>0021-9150 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>*Coronary Artery Disease<br/>*Plaque, Atherosclerotic<br/>Aged<br/>Aged, 80 and over<br/>Coronary Angiography<br/>Coronary Artery Disease/dg [Diagnostic Imaging]<br/>Coronary Artery Disease/ep [Epidemiology]<br/>Coronary Vessels/dg [Diagnostic Imaging]<br/>Humans<br/>Lipids<br/>Predictive Value of Tests<br/>Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared<br/>Ultrasonography, Interventional
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Geographic Terms: </label><br/>MedStar Health Research Institute<br/>MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
<br/><br/><label>Index Terms--Function: </label><br/>Journal Article