Table 2.

Computed tomography coronary angiography findings aortic plaque according to coronary artery calcium score category

Variables	Overall (n = 204)	No CAD (N = 46)	Nonobstructive CAD (N = 99)	Obstructive CAD (N = 59)	P-value for trend
Ascending aorta segment
Ascending aortic plaque	59 (29%)	4 (8.6%)	23 (23%)	32 (54%)	<0.001
Complex plaque (ulcered or protruded plaque)	12 (5.8%)	0 (0%)	2 (2.0%)	10 (17%)	<0.001
Large plaque ≥4 mm in thickness	5 (2.5%)	0 (0%)	2 (2.0%)	3 (5.1%)	0.23
Large or complex plaque	16 (7.8%)	0 (0%)	4 (4.0%)	12 (20%)	<0.001
Aortic arch segment
Aortic arch plaque (AAP)	105 (51%)	13 (28%)	49 (49%)	43 (73%)	<0.001
Complex plaque (ulcered or protruded plaque)	20 (9.8%)	0 (0%)	7 (7.1%)	23 (39%)	<0.001
Large plaque ≥4 mm in thickness	25 (12%)	1 (2.1%)	7 (7.1%)	17 (29%)	<0.001
Large or complex plaque	36 (18%)	1 (2.1%)	12 (12%)	23 (39%)	<0.001
Descending aorta segment
Descending aortic plaque	134 (66%)	15 (33%)	64 (65%)	55 (93%)	<0.001
Complex plaque (ulcered or protruded plaque)	44 (22%)	1 (2.2%)	17 (17%)	26 (44%)	<0.001
Large plaque ≥4 mm in thickness	21 (10%)	1 (2.2%)	7 (7.1%)	13 (22%)	0.001
Large or complex plaque	47 (23%)	1 (2.2%)	19 (19%)	27 (46%)	<0.001
Number of segments with aortic plaque
Aortic plaque present
0 segment	58 (28%)	29 (63%)	25 (25%)	4 (6.7%)	<0.001
1 segment	44 (22%)	6 (13%)	31 (31%)	7 (12%)	0.004
2 segments	52 (25%)	7 (15%)	24 (24%)	21 (36%)	0.055
3 segments	50 (25%)	4 (8.6%)	19 (19%)	27 (46%)	<0.001
Number of segment with large/complex plaque
0 segment	143 (70%)	44 (96%)	75 (75%)	24 (41%)	<0.001
1 segment	30 (15%)	2 (4.3%)	14 (14%)	14 (24%)	0.020
2 segments	24 (12%)	0 (0%)	9 (9.0%)	15 (25%)	<0.001
3 segments	7 (3.4%)	0 (0%)	1 (1.0%)	6 (10%)	0.003
TAC	1193 (2791)	283 (1356)	983 (2209)	2225 (2791)	<0.001a

Variables are reported as number (%) or mean (SD).

CACS, coronary artery calcium score; CTCA, computed tomography coronary angiography.

^aLog-transformation was used to assess statistical significance for TAC.