Abstract

A novel and simply calculated cardiac load index correlates with coronary artery disease

Author(s): Yueqiao Si, Wenjun Fan, Jingyi Liu, Xiuxin Gao, Chao Han, Tong Liu, Lixian Sun

Background: No Cardiac Load Index (CLI) has been established for patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). We propose a simple method for calculating CLI and explore the association of CLI with CAD.

Methods: We enrolled 4145 consecutive inpatients with suspected stable CAD from December 2011 to June 2017 at the Chengde Medical University Affiliated Hospital. All patients were divided into the CAD (n=2914) and the NCAD groups (n=1231) according to coronary computed tomography angiography. We retrospectively collected data and calculated the CLI values of all patients. The receiver operating characteristic diagnostic test analysis was performed with CLI ≥ 77, CLI ≥ 125, CLI ≥ 171, CLI ≥ 217, and CLI ≥ 264, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression models were established to determine the risk factors of CAD.

Results: The CLI was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the NCAD group and higher in the male than in the female subgroup (both P<0.001). CLI ≥ 171 was the diagnostic cut-off value. The predictive power of CLI ≥ 171 for CAD improved after considering other risk factors. CLI ≥ 171 is a new independent risk factor for CAD, and is an independent risk factor for CAD in males and females (all P<0.001).

Conclusion: Increased CLI is an independent risk factor for CAD, it may be used as a predictor for the prevalence for CAD to improve diagnosis and prevention.