Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index on Coronary Artery Disease Using Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging-Single Photon Computed Tomography

Abstract

Background: Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (GMPI-SPECT) is a nuclear stress test; performed to observe perfusion of cardiac tissue and its related defects; to diagnose / stratifying risk in individuals either suspected or known cases of coronary artery disease (CAD) whereas body mass index (BMI) is used for screening of obesity. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of BMI on the prognosis of intermediate-risk CAD patients, stratified by GMPI-SPECT results in both genders. Methods: Ziauddin University Hospital was the setting of this prospective cross-sectional descriptive study, from March 2017 to December 2019 using non-probability purposive sampling. Non-obese and obese GMPI-SPECT patients (n=115) were divided into two major groups (male and female). Patients were interviewed after 18 months regarding cardiac events with/without interventional procedures. SPSS v.23 was used with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: In the study, 56.5% were male, 57.4% were obese, and higher BMI males with an intermediate risk prognosis on GMPI-SPECT have a 7.5% risk of minor cardiac events. In post hoc analysis it was observed that samples with intermediate risk have significantly higher BMI as compared to high-risk samples p=0.028). Pearson Chi-Square test gives a significant association between GMPI-SPECT outcomes and 18-month intervals with a p<0.01. One-way ANOVA gives a significant mean difference in BMI concerning GMPI-SPECT outcomes (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study findings suggest that men with higher BMI, multiple risk factors, and intermediate risk prognosis on GMPI-SPECT do have a risk of experiencing a minor cardiac incident within 18 months. Keywords: Gated-Myocardial Perfusion Imaging-SPECT, Body Mass Index, Coronary Artery Disease.