AIM  To investigate the coronary artery lesion characteristics of CT angiography in patients with coronary heart disease and the comparative analysis of coronary heart disease risk factors at different altitudes.

  METHODS  100 patients with coronary heart disease admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University from January 2018 to December 2019 served as a high altitude group, and 100 patients with coronary heart disease admitted to Huludao Central Hospital served as a low altitude group. All patients underwent coronary CTA scanning. CTA manifestations and risk factors were retrospectively analyzed. And the results were statistically analyzed.

  RESULTS  The onset age of patients with coronary heart disease was younger in high altitude group than in low altitude group. The incidence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and hemoglobin levels and homocysteine (Hcy) were significantly higher in high altitude group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The proportion of multi-vessel disease, moderate to severe stenosis and occluded vessels in the high altitude group were higher than in low altitude group (P<0.05, P<0.01). However, the proportion of single-vessel disease and mild stenosis was significantly lower (P<0.01). The incidence of collateral circulation in high altitude group was higher than in low altitude group (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the levels of coronary occlusion was positive correlated with the collateral circulation formation of coronary artery in high altitude group.

  CONCLUSION  Coronary artery disease and risk factors of patients with coronary heart disease are different at different altitudes. It has certain clinical value in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease in high altitude area.