All CT scans were performed using a 64-slice scanner system (Lightspeed, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA) and a 40-slice scanner system (Brilliance 40, Philips, Hamburg, Germany). Tube voltage was 120 kVp and tube current was 125 mA. Step and shoot mode was used with prospectively ECG triggered to 75% of the R-R interval in subjects with a heart rate (HR) at most 65 beats per minute (bpm) and 45% of the R-R interval in subjects with a HR faster than 65 bpm. Imaging was reconstructed into a 2.5-mm slice thickness with a 512 X 512 matrix and a 25-cm field-of-view. No premedication with nitrate or beta-blocker was administered. CAC score analysis was performed using dedicated software (Terarecon Aquarius Workstation, San Mateo, California, USA) and CAC scores were subsequently calculated using the methods described by Agatston et al..[17 (link)] Then, subjects were classified into four groups according to CAC score as follows: 0, 1–99, 100–399 and ≥ 400.[3 (link),18 (link)]
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