Ultrasound-assessed non-culprit and culprit coronary vessels differ by age and gender

Table 1 Baseline characteristics (n = 130) n (%)

Characteristic	Patients in the lowest age tertile	Patients in the middle age tertile	Patients in the highest age tertile	P value1
Age, mean ± SD (range), yr	47.6 ± 6.8 (20.5-55.5)	59.6 ± 2.4 (55.5-64.2)	70.9 ± 4.8 (64.3-83.7)	< 0.001
Female sex	29 (22.3)	36 (27.7)	43 (33.1)	0.053
Body mass index, mean ± SD, kg/m2	26.9 ± 5.1	28.0 ± 4.9	27.4 ± 3.6	0.408
Obesity2	25 (19.2)	37 (28.5)	30 (23.1)	0.466
Systolic BP, mean ± SD, mmHg	128 ± 19	134 ± 19	133 ± 20	0.017
Diastolic BP, mean ± SD, mmHg	77 ± 12	77 ± 11	73 ± 11	0.007
Cardiovascular risk factors
Hypertension	58 (44.6)	85 (65.4)	95 (73.1)	< 0.001
Dyslipidemia	77 (59.2)	101 (77.7)	90 (69.2)	0.082
Current smoker	47 (36.2)	30 (23.1)	16 (12.3)	< 0.001
Diabetes	11 (8.5)	23 (17.7)	30 (23.1)	0.001
Positive family history	47 (36.2)	48 (36.9)	51 (39.2)	0.609
Manifest atherosclerosis
CAD	78 (60.0)	101 (77.7)	112 (86.2)	< 0.001
ACS	35 (26.9)	32 (24.6)	33 (25.4)	0.777
Previous stroke	1 (0.8)	5 (3.9)	7 (5.4)	0.038
Peripheral artery disease	2 (1.5)	11 (8.5)	6 (4.6)	0.250
Medication3
ACE inhibitor	29 (22.3)	46 (35.4)	52 (40.0)	0.002
Betablocker	47 (36.2)	60 (46.2)	67 (51.5)	0.013
Statin	36 (27.7)	57 (43.9)	62 (47.7)	0.001
Other measurements
LDL, mean ± SD, mmol/L	2.8 ± 1.0	2.7 ± 1.2	2.6 ± 1.0	0.263
LVEF, mean ± SD, %	70 ± 11	68 ± 13	70 ± 12	0.875

¹P value for trend across age groups was calculated using linear regression;

²Defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²;

³Long-term medication in the two weeks before intravascular ultrasound. ACE: Angiotensin converting enzyme; ACS: Acute coronary syndrome; BP: Blood pressure; CAD: Coronary artery disease; LDL: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Table 2 Age- and gender-related differences of plaque burden and plaque components in vessels containing non-culprit or culprit lesions (mean ± SD)

Plaque component	Patients in the lowest age tertile			Patients in the middle age tertile			Patients in the highest age tertile			P value1	P value2
	Male	Female	P value	Male	Female	P value	Male	Female	P value
Non-culprit vessels
Segments available for analysis	n = 154	n = 44		n = 159	n = 54		n = 140	n = 67
Plaque burden, %	37 ± 12	30 ± 9	< 0.001	42 ± 11	35 ± 12	< 0.001	46 ± 10	40 ± 11	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
Fibrous volume, %	53 ± 12	44 ± 20	< 0.001	51 ± 12	54 ± 13	0.161	52 ± 11	53 ± 12	0.947	0.949	0.005
Fibro-fatty volume, %	13 ± 11	17 ± 19	0.966	11 ± 9	17 ± 15	0.053	13 ± 9	12 ± 10	0.365	0.992	0.060
NC volume, %	18 ± 8	15 ± 10	0.033	21 ± 9	16 ± 10	< 0.001	20 ± 8	19 ± 9	0.646	0.13	0.017
DC volume, %	17 ± 14	24 ± 22	0.324	17 ± 12	13 ± 14	0.003	15 ± 10	16 ± 12	0.814	0.323	0.028
Lumen volume, mm3	398 ± 182	342 ± 115	0.053	348 ± 133	308 ± 130	0.057	310 ± 133	332 ± 127	0.267	< 0.001	0.815
Culprit vessels
Segments available for analysis	n = 22	n = 5		n = 19	n = 3		n = 16	n = 8
Plaque burden, %	48 ± 6	44 ± 18	0.376	43 ± 11	47 ± 14	0.578	51 ± 9	49 ± 8	0.724	0.523	0.449
Fibrous volume, %	57 ± 9	58 ± 8	0.795	51 ± 10	67 ± 12	0.026	44 ± 12	57 ± 11	0.024	< 0.001	0.727
Fibro-fatty volume, %	13 ± 9	13 ± 6	0.683	9 ± 5	8 ± 2	0.562	7 ± 5	11 ± 7	0.069	0.006	0.561
NC volume, %	19 ± 8	19 ± 7	0.930	23 ± 9	17 ± 8	0.285	28 ± 7	20 ± 7	0.018	0.003	0.697
DC volume, %	11 ± 8	10 ± 8	0.851	17 ± 8	8 ± 7	0.113	22 ± 12	13 ± 12	0.040	0.001	0.655
Lumen volume, mm3	340 ± 144	398 ± 340	0.541	385 ± 171	236 ± 133	0.168	271 ± 82	307 ± 116	0.394	0.201	0.505

¹P value for trend across age groups in men. ¹P value was calculated using linear regression;

²P value for trend across age groups in women. P value was calculated using linear regression. DC: Dense calcium; NC: Necrotic core.