Pitfalls in comparison of coronary artery measurements of Indian population with different geographical area studies

INTRODUCTION: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the developing countries. Coronary artery measurements (CAM) are the most important factor affecting the procedure and outcome of coronary angioplasty (PCI) as well as coronary by-pass operations (CABG). In this study, we aimed to establish a database for the normal CAM as well as for gender difference among the Indian population using quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) with an objective of assessing normal coronary vessel morphology of patients with normal coronaries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four thousand angiograms from patients of Indian origin were studied prospectively after procuring the sanction for the same from the ethical committee of the pre-selected hospitals of four states in India. Informed consents were obtained. Post CABG, post PCI patients and patient being diabetic for ≥5 years were also excluded from the study. RESULTS: Ten segments from right and left coronary arteries were taken for diameter measurements. These coronary diameters were indexed to body surface area (BSA) (mean diameter mm/m(2) BSA). Among, 4000 patients, 933(23.3%) [M:F-521:412] had normal coronaries and 3067 (76.7%) were diseased. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The dimensions of the coronary artery segments of Indians were smaller (in BSA indexed and non-indexed data), compared to studies from other continents which can be due to their smaller BSA.