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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: UNLABELLED, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Cholesterol, Cohort Studies, Coronary Angiography, Coronary Artery Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Odds Ratio, Predictive Value of Tests, Probability, Risk Assessment, Sensitivity and Specificity, Severity of Illness Index, Skin, Skin Tests.
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Is skin tissue cholesterol ( SkinTc ) related to angiographically-defined cardiovascular disease? Context: Parallel changes associated with aging found in the vasculature and skin at necropsy, have prompted small preliminary studies to assess the relation between skin tissue cholesterol (SkinTc) and cardiovascular disease. While these studies have been suggestive, no formal investigation is available to test this association. It would, therefore, be valuable to determine whether a relation between SkinTc and angiographic narrowing actually exists, the latter representing one accepted measurement of coronary atherosclerosis. Patients at three hospitals undergoing coronary angiography and not on lipid altering agents (n = 649) were examined for skinTc using a non-invasive method. Vessels were evaluated manually (number with stenosis > or = 50%). Clinical characteristics, current medication use, and Framingham global risk score were recorded. SkinTc was significantly higher in patients with angiographic disease (124 +/- 30 vs. 118 +/- 30, P = 0.02). After adjustment for traditional coronary artery disease risk factors, SkinTc provided 7% additional risk (per 10 SkinTc units) for angiographic disease.
assistant
SkinTc, measured with a non-invasive method, is associated with the presence of coronary artery disease as determined by catheterization. Such an assay may eventually help stratify patient risk and target prevention efforts. Final Decision: yes