Relationship between left ventricular mass and coronary artery disease in young adults: a single-center study using cardiac computed tomography

We evaluated the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular mass (LVM) as measured by cardiac computed tomography (CT) in young adults ≤40 years of age. We retrospectively enrolled 490 consecutive individuals (383 males; mean age, 35.2 ± 4.4 years) who underwent cardiac CT. CAD was defined by the presence of any plaque detected by coronary CT angiography. Left ventricular (LV) function, including LVM, was automatically measured by a dedicated workstation. LVM and LVM index (LVMi) in patients with CT-detected CAD were compared to those of patients without CT-detected CAD. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and CAD. Fifty-five individuals had CT-detected CAD (11.2 %, 53 males). LVM measured by cardiac CT was 126.9 ± 30.0 g for males and 93.6 ± 20.9 g for females. LVM was higher (117.8 ± 30.8 vs. 133.6 ± 33.1 g, P < 0.001) in patients with CT-detected CAD compared with patients without CT-detected CAD. Obesity, hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, LVM and LVMi were predictors of CT-detected CAD. Body mass index (r = 0.237, P < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.281, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with LVM. In the multivariate analysis, LVM [odds ratio (OR) = 1.016] and LVMi (OR = 1.026) remained independent predictors of CAD. LVM and LVMi in patients with CT-detected CAD were higher than that of patients without CT-detected CAD. LVM and LVMi measured by cardiac CT were independent predictors of CAD.