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Im Rahmen der Projekt-Lehrveranstaltung "Angewandte Biotopforschung" an der Universität Osnabrück wurden im Jahre 1987 in einem kleinen Feuchtgebiet des Osnabrükker Stadtteils Atter Untersuchungen an den dortigen Amphibienbeständen durchgeführt. Dabei konnten 9 Arten nachgewiesen werden: Erdkröte (Bufo bufo), Grasfrosch (Rana temporaria), Moorfrosch (Rana arvalis), Wasserfrosch (Rana esculenta), Laubfrosch (Hyla arborea), Teichmolch (Triturus vulgaris), Fadenmolch (T. helveticus), Bergmolch (T. alpestris) und Kammolch (T. cristatus). 4 der Arten stehen auf der Roten Liste. Bedingt durch das kalte Frühjahr 1987 erfolgten die Wanderungen zu den Laichgewässern sehr spät. Negative Entwicklungen und Einflüsse, die im Gebiet beobachtbar sind, sollten durch die Ausweisung als "Flächenhaftes Naturdenkmal" eingedämmt werden. Über einen Pflege- und Entwicklungsplan wäre das Gelände zu verbessern.
Background: Computed tomography (CT) allows estimation of coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression. We evaluated several progression algorithms in our unselected, population-based cohort for risk prediction of coronary and cardiovascular events.
Methods: In 3281 participants (45–74 years of age), free from cardiovascular disease until the second visit, risk factors, and CTs at baseline (b) and after a mean of 5.1 years (5y) were measured. Hard coronary and cardiovascular events, and total cardiovascular events including revascularization, as well, were recorded during a follow-up time of 7.8±2.2 years after the second CT. The added predictive value of 10 CAC progression algorithms on top of risk factors including baseline CAC was evaluated by using survival analysis, C-statistics, net reclassification improvement, and integrated discrimination index. A subgroup analysis of risk in CAC categories was performed.
Results: We observed 85 (2.6%) hard coronary, 161 (4.9%) hard cardiovascular, and 241 (7.3%) total cardiovascular events. Absolute CAC progression was higher with versus without subsequent coronary events (median, 115 [Q1–Q3, 23–360] versus 8 [0–83], P<0.0001; similar for hard/total cardiovascular events). Some progression algorithms added to the predictive value of baseline CT and risk assessment in terms of C-statistic or integrated discrimination index, especially for total cardiovascular events. However, CAC progression did not improve models including CAC5y and 5-year risk factors. An excellent prognosis was found for 921 participants with double-zero CACb=CAC5y=0 (10-year coronary and hard/total cardiovascular risk: 1.4%, 2.0%, and 2.8%), which was for participants with incident CAC 1.8%, 3.8%, and 6.6%, respectively. When CACb progressed from 1 to 399 to CAC5y≥400, coronary and total cardiovascular risk were nearly 2-fold in comparison with subjects who remained below CAC5y=400. Participants with CACb≥400 had high rates of hard coronary and hard/total cardiovascular events (10-year risk: 12.0%, 13.5%, and 30.9%, respectively).
Conclusions: CAC progression is associated with coronary and cardiovascular event rates, but adds only weakly to risk prediction. What counts is the most recent CAC value and risk factor assessment. Therefore, a repeat scan >5 years after the first scan may be of additional value, except when a double-zero CT scan is present or when the subjects are already at high risk.
