Publication:

Non obstructive versus obstructive coronary artery disease documented by coronary angiography: prevalence, diagnostic features in a single center experience

Background Coronary angiography often detects NOCAD. Stable angina or MI patients may have NOCAD, defined as less than 50% luminal diameter decrease by visual assessment on coronary angiography. The study was to determine the frequency of non-obstructive coronary artery disease in Al Hussain cardiac centre patients who underwent CAG and the differences in clinical presentation and associated morbidity between the two groups.

Methods Cross-sectional research was done at Karbala's al-Hussaini cardiac centre. CAG data from 167 IHD-like patients between January and May 2021. NOCAD 42 individuals (stenosis <50%) were compared to 125 obstructive CAD patients (≥50% stenosis).

Results Between January and May 2021, 167 individuals received CAG for diagnostic, therapeutic, elective, or emergency purposes. The study included 113 (67.7%) men and 54 (32.3%) women. Patients had an average age of 56.52±11.09 years, with a median of 58 years. Overall, 25.1% (n=42) of research participants had NOCAD. The frequency of INOCA was 29.4% and MINOCA 19.1%. Patients with NOCAD were younger than those with obstructive CAD (p<0.05). no significant gender, co morbidity, or clinical differences across groups.

Conclusions We believe this is the first report of prevalence, risk factors, and clinical aspects in karbalai patients' cardiac care centre in Iraq. NOCAD patients are younger and their medical history, clinical features, ECG, and serum troponin are difficult to distinguish from OCAD.