Subclinical COronary Atheroscleorosis Updated With Coronary cT Angiography (SCOUT Study)

A large proportion of patients with sudden cardiac death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) had no prior symptom, which emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of the underlying subclinical coronary atherosclerosis before they happen. However, there are no powerful screening methods to detect subclinical coronary atherosclerosis until recently. Traditional CAD risk factors, treadmill exercise test, and EBCT are known to have limited power to detect subclinical coronary atherosclerosis and predict future cardiac events.

Coronary CT angiography (CTA) depicting detailed coronary artery anatomy in a noninvasive fashion would seem to be already one of the mainstays of diagnostic procedure in symptomatic population. Instead of the probability of significant stenosis, CTA could provide information about the location, burden and characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque per se, which might give additional insight to stratify the risk of future cardiac events and therapy.

In this study, we will evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis on CTA and its impact on the management in asymptomatic population. And then, we will develop standardized protocol for the management of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, and follow for adverse cardiac events.

In phase I study, we will enroll subjects who had undergone CTA and analyze the characteristics of plaques on CTA. Also, we will evaluate the impact of CTA by comparing the performance of secondary test with those who had not undergone CTA evaluation.

In phase II study, we will recruit subjects who had significant coronary stenosis on CTA. If the patients had significant stenosis, they will undergo coronary angiography to confirm the severity of stenosis. If they had coronary artery stenosis more than 75%, they will receive percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stent (DES). If they had intermediate lesion, their treatment option will be judged by the results of fractional flow reserve test. If they had coronary lesion less than 50%, they will be treated only by medication.