Difference in the topography of atherosclerosis in the left versus right coronary artery in patients referred for coronary angiography

Abstract

Background: We sought to determine the difference in the localization of coronary artery disease (CAD) between the left and right coronary artery system and investigate the effect of sex and age on that difference.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 17,323 consecutive angiographies from January 1st, 1984 to December 31st, 2003. The demographic parameters, in particular age and sex of the investigated cases as well as the angiographic results were recorded and summarized.

Results: Of 13,305 cases with CAD, 861 (6.5%) had right coronary artery (RCA)-only disease, 4,621 (34.7%) had left coronary artery (LCA)-only disease, while 7,823 (58.8%) cases had concomitant RCA and LCA disease. LCA-only disease was more frequent than RCA-only disease [LCA-only/RCA-only odds ratio (OR): 5.37, 95% CI: 4.99 to 5.77, p < 0.001]. Women were more likely to have LCA-only disease (men/women OR 0.75 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.82, p < 0.001) compared with men who were more likely to present with concomitant RCA and LCA disease (men/women OR 1.33 95% CI: 1.21 to 1.45, p < 0.001). RCA-only and LCA-only disease were both more frequent in patients aged from 51 to 60 years, while concomitant RCA and LCA disease in patients between 61 and 70 years of age.

Conclusions: LCA-only disease is more frequent than RCA-only disease. Men have a higher probability than women to present with concomitant RCA and LCA disease while women are more likely than men to be found with LCA-only disease.

Figure 1

LCA-only vs. RCA-only odds ratio (OR) plot for each decade of age. Each point in the graph represents an OR, while the error bars correspond to its 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). An OR with 95% CI > 1.0 indicates significantly higher likelihood for LCA-only disease, whereas an OR with 95% CI < 1.0 indicates significantly higher likelihood for RCA-only disease. A. In all patients, LCA-only disease was more probable than RCA-only disease in all age groups except for subjects younger than 30 years of age where no significant difference was found. B. In men, LCA-only disease was more probable than RCA-only disease in all age groups except for subjects younger than 30 years of age where no significant difference was found. C. In women, LCA-only disease was more probable than RCA-only disease in all age groups except for subjects younger than 40 years of age where no significant difference was found. OR could not be calculated for subjects older than 80 years of age as no cases with RCA-only disease were noted in that age group.