Visual Scale as a Non-Invasive Method for Evaluation of Risk and Severity of Coronary Atherosclerosis

Aim      To evaluate quantitative and qualitative characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) in carotid arteries (CA) and femoral arteries (FA) and to use these data for developing a visual scale (VS) for noninvasive diagnosis and determination of severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Material and methods  This study included 216 patients (115 men and 101 women) aged 24 to 87 years (mean age, 61.5±10.73 years). All patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG) for detecting and determining severity of CA atherosclerosis and duplex scanning (DS) for detecting atherosclerosis of CA and FA.

Results Analysis of ultrasound parameters of ASP in CA and FA showed that the maximal ASP height, moderate stenosis and maximal stenosis of the arterial bed had higher predictive values than other ultrasound parameters. These parameters were used for forming diagnostic complexes, on the basis of which two individual VSs for CA and FA were developed. Based on the high prognostic value of both scales, they were combined into one that was named VS_COMB. A ROC analysis determined cut-off points of the VS_COMB for diagnosis of CA atherosclerosis of various severity. VS_COMB scores  >4 indicated pronounced CA atherosclerosis with sensitivity of 86.1 % and specificity of 87.5 % whereas VS_COMB scores  ≤4 excluded it. Thus, VS_COMB score 0–1 indicated the absence of CA atherosclerosis; score 2–4 indicated the presence of subclinical CA atherosclerosis; and score >4 indicated severe CA atherosclerosis.

Conclusion      A VS_COMB was developed that includes a set of ultrasound parameters for CA and FA and is useful for noninvasive diagnosis of CA atherosclerosis of various severity. Simple and convenient use of VS_COMB allows it to be used at the screening stage to detect subclinical CA atherosclerosis and to prevent its progression.

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