The association between progression of coronary artery calcium and colorectal adenoma: A retrospective follow-up study of asymptomatic Koreans

The potential relationship between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and colorectal adenoma has been widely indicated. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the risk of colorectal adenoma and CAC progression in asymptomatic Korean adults who underwent serial assessments by colonoscopy and CAC scan. A total of 754 asymptomatic participants, who had undergone serial CAC scans and colonoscopies for screening, were enrolled. Changes in CAC were assessed according to the absolute change between baseline and follow-up results. CAC progression was defined using Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis method. Risk for adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy was determined using hazard ratio (HR) by Cox regression. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was measured. The mean follow-up duration was 3.4 ± 2.5 years. CAC progression was found in 215 participants (28.5%). Participants with adenoma at index colonoscopy showed a higher rate of CAC progression than those without (38.8% vs 23.6%, P < .01). In participants with adenoma at index colonoscopy, CAC progression significantly increased the cumulative risk for adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy (HR = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–2.06, log-rank P = .021). In multivariate analysis, male sex (HR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.22–5.42, P = .013), ≥3 adenomas at index colonoscopy (HR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.16–5.85, P = .021), and CAC progression (HR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.48–5.08, P = .001) increased the risk of adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy. In participants without adenoma at index colonoscopy, neither baseline CAC presence nor CAC progression increased the risk of adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy. The interaction between CAC progression and adenoma at index colonoscopy was significant in multivariable model (P = .005). In the ROC analysis, AUC of CAC progression for adenoma at follow-up colonoscopy was 0.625 (95% CI 0.567–0.684, P < .001) in participants with adenoma at index colonoscopy. Participants with CAC progression, who are at high risk of coronary atherosclerosis, may need to be considered for follow-up evaluation of colorectal adenoma, especially those with adenoma at index colonoscopy.