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Review
. 2021 Jul 13;78(2):156-179.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.05.011.

Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) Study: JACC Focus Seminar 7/8

Borja Ibanez  1 , Antonio Fernández-Ortiz  2 , Leticia Fernández-Friera  3 , Inés García-Lunar  4 , Vicente Andrés  5 , Valentín Fuster  6
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Free article
Review

Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis (PESA) Study: JACC Focus Seminar 7/8

Borja Ibanez et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

Atherosclerosis starts early in life and progresses silently for decades. Considering atherosclerosis as a "systemic disease" invites the use of noninvasive methodologies to detect disease in various regions before symptoms appear. The PESA-(Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis) CNIC-SANTANDER study is an ongoing prospective cohort study examining imaging, biological, and behavioral parameters associated with the presence and progression of early subclinical atherosclerosis. Between 2010 and 2014, PESA enrolled 4,184 asymptomatic middle-aged participants who undergo serial 3-yearly follow-up examinations including clinical interviews, lifestyle questionnaires, sampling, and noninvasive imaging assessment of multiterritorial subclinical atherosclerosis (carotids, iliofemorals, aorta, and coronaries). PESA tracks the trajectories of atherosclerosis and associated disorders from early stages to the transition to symptomatic phases. A joint venture between the CNIC and the Santander Bank, PESA is expected to run until at least 2029, and its significant contributions to date are presented in this review paper.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; cardiovascular disease; cohort; imaging; population; risk stratification.

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Conflict of interest statement

Funding Support and Author Disclosures The PESA study is funded by the CNIC and Santander Bank. The study has also received funding from the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII, PI15/02019, PI17/00590, and PI20/00819) and the European Regional Development Fund. The CNIC is supported by the ISCIII, the MICIN, and the Pro CNIC Foundation. Dr Ibanez is the recipient of a European Research Council grant MATRIX (ERC-COG-2018-ID: 819775). Dr Andrés is supported by grant PID2019-108489RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICIN), with cofunding from the European Regional Development Fund/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (ERDF/FEDER, “A way to build Europe”). All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.

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