Conference Coverage
“The CONFIRM Registry is the largest long-term data set available and allowed us to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of CCTA in diabetic patients,” said Jonathan Leipsic, MD, vice chairman of the Department of Radiology at the University of British Columbia and study coauthor.
The researchers analyzed data for 1,823 patients with diabetes who underwent CCTA to detect and determine the extent of coronary artery disease. Men and women (median age, 61.7) in the study were categorized as having no coronary artery disease, mild disease (ie, coronary artery narrowed by less than 50%), or obstructive disease (ie, obstruction of more than 50% of the artery). Over a 5.2-year follow-up period, 246 deaths occurred, representing 13.5% of the total study group.
Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) data were available for 973 patients. During the follow-up period, 295 (30.3%) of the patients had a MACE, such as heart attack or a coronary revascularization.
The researchers found that both obstructive and mild, or nonobstructive, coronary artery disease, as determined by CCTA, were associated with patient deaths and MACE. Most importantly, the researchers found that the relative risk for death or MACE for a patient with mild coronary artery disease was comparable to that of patients with single vessel obstructive disease.
“Until now, two-year follow-up studies suggested that a diabetic patient with mild or nonobstructive coronary artery disease had a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and death than patients with obstructive disease,” said Philipp Blanke, MD, a radiologist at the University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s Hospital and a coauthor of the study. “Our five-year follow-up data suggest that nonobstructive and obstructive coronary artery disease, as detected by cardiac CTA in diabetic patients, are both associated with higher rates of mortality.”
Researchers need a better understanding of the evolution of plaque in the arteries and of patient response to therapies, said Dr. Leipsic. “Cardiac CT angiography is helpful for identifying diabetic patients who are at higher risk for heart events and who may benefit from more aggressive therapy to help modify that risk,” he added.
Patients Prefer Direct Access to Imaging Records
Patients value direct, independent access to their medical exams, researchers reported.
Giampaolo Greco, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Science and Policy at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues set out to evaluate patient and provider satisfaction with RSNA Image Share, an Internet-based interoperable image exchange system that gives patients ownership of their imaging exams and control over access to their imaging records. The network enables radiology sites to make results of imaging exams available for patients to incorporate in personal health record (PHR) accounts they can use to securely store, manage, and share their imaging records. Sites also can use the network to send patient imaging records to other participating sites to support better informed care.
For the study, patients undergoing radiologic exams at four academic centers were eligible to establish online PHR accounts using the RSNA Image Share network. Patients could then use their PHR accounts to maintain and share their images with selected providers, creating a detailed medical history accessible through any secure Internet connection.
Between July 2012 and August 2013, the study enrolled 2,562 patients, mean age 50.4, including a significant representation of older individuals. Older individuals have the highest healthcare utilization and often experience or perceive a significant barrier in using information technology.
The median number of exams uploaded per patient was six. Study participants were provided a brief survey to assess patient and physician experience with the exchange of images, and 502 patients completed and returned their surveys. Of these respondents, 448 patients identified the method used at the visit to share images: Internet, CDs, both Internet and CDs, or other, and 165 included a section completed by their physician.
Nearly all (96%) of the patients responded positively to having direct access to their medical images, and 78% viewed their images independently. There was no difference between Internet and CD users in satisfaction with privacy and security and timeliness of access to medical images. A greater percentage of Internet users reported being able to access their images without difficulty, compared with CD users (88.3% vs 77.5%).