Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Heart disease, characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits within the arteries of the heart, is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite this, there remains a need for a tool that can accurately identify patients at high risk for heart disease. It has been shown that the development of fatty deposits within the femoral arteries precedes adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and cardiac death. However, the value of a femoral artery assessment as a screening tool is unexplored. The objective of this study was to determine if the quantity of femoral fatty deposits is indicative of significant heart disease. We found that increased amounts of femoral fatty deposits, as imaged by ultrasound, indicate the presence of heart disease, as detected by catheterization. A femoral artery ultrasound may thus be used to help detect heart disease early and accurately, thereby assisting in the prevention of adverse events, such as heart attacks and strokes.