Mean proximal coronary artery diameters in adults from Pakistan assessed by computed tomography angiography
Abstract
Background: The diameter of the coronary arteries is a key factor in the prognosis after a coronary intervention or a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Understanding of the normal coronary dimensions is critical for proper stent size selection, procedural planning, and for understanding coronary imaging. But there are limited normative values for proximal coronary artery diameters of the Pakistani population. Objective: To determine the mean diameters of proximal coronary arteries in adults from Pakistan without any evidence of structural heart disease. Methodology: This was descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out at Radiology Departments of Chughtai Lab and Doctors Hospital, Lahore from March 2026 to June 2026. 246 adults aged 18-65 years who underwent CT coronary angiography with normal ECG, echocardiography, and CTCA were recruited by non-probability consecutive sampling. The 160-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography was used to measure diameters 1 cm from the origins of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), left anterior descending artery (LAD), left circumflex artery (LCX), and right coronary artery (RCA). Data was analyzed in SPSS version 26. Results: Coronary artery dimensions varied among different arteries with the left main coronary artery being the widest followed by the right coronary artery, left anterior descending artery, and the left circumflex artery. After B.S.A. correction, the coronary arteries of the male subjects showed significantly greater diameter than those of females. However, the diameter of the coronary arteries in the male subjects were consistently larger than the female subjects after correction for B.S.A. Height, weight, BMI and BSA were found to have positive correlations with the dimensions of the coronary arteries. Conclusion: Proximal coronary artery dimensions can be reliably evaluated with CT coronary angiography. Knowing the reference value for adults will be helpful to improve planning of coronary interventions in Pakistan and improve the outcome of cardiovascular outcomes for these patients.