Table 1.

Key studies on prognostic role of high-risk plaque characteristics investigated by coronary computed tomography angiography.

	Setting	Study Design	Follow-Up	Patients Number	Plaque Characteristics	ACS or MACE Prediction Rates
Feuchtner et al. [113]	Suspected CAD	Observational	7.8 years	1469	LAP, PR, NRS, SC	MACE group showed decreased LAP (35.2 HU ± 32 vs. 108.8 HU ± 53; p < 0.001), increased NRS presence (63.4% vs. 28%; p < 0.001)
Ferencik et al. [114]	Stable CAD	RCT	25 months	4415	LAP, PR, NRS	HRP was associated with higher MACE rate (6.4% vs. 2.4%; HR: 2.73; 95% CI, 1.89–3.93)
Chang et al. [115]	Stable CAD and ACS	Observational	3.4 ± 2.1 years	468	LAP, PR, SC	ACS events were predicted by HRP presence (HR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.08), SC presence (HR:1.54; 95% CI:1.17–2.04), LAP presence (HR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05–1.81)
Williams et al. [116]	Stable CAD	RCT, post-hoc analysis	4.7 years (IQR 4.0–5.7)	1769	LAP, PR, NRS, SC	MACE were associated with increased HRP (4.1% vs. non-HRP 1.4%; p < 0.001) Obstructive CAD was associated with increased HRP (4.9% vs. non-HRP 2.4%; p = 0.036)
Senoner et al. [117]	Suspected CAD	Observational	10.55 ± 1.98 years	1430	LAP, PR, NRS, SC	MACE were predicted by LAP < 60 HU (HR: 4.00, 95%CI: 1.52–10.52, p = 0.005), NRS (HR 4.11, 95% CI: 1.77–9.52, p = 0.001) SC and PR not significant
Taron et al. [118]	Stable CAD	Observational	26 months	2890	LAP, PR, NRS	≥2 HRP (vs. <2 HRP) features predicted MACE (HR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01–5.01, p = 0.04)
Yang et al. [119]	Stable CAD	Observational	2.9 years	335	LAP, PR	MACE were predicted by HRP (HR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.10–6.50; p = 0.02)

Abbreviations: ACS—acute coronary syndrome; CAD—coronary artery disease; CI—confidence interval; HR—hazard ratio; HRP—high-risk plaque; HU—Hounsfield units; LAP—low-attenuation plaque; MACE—major adverse cardiovascular events; MI—myocardial infarction; NRS—napkin-ring sign; PR—positive remodeling; SC—spotty calcification.