Smit JM, van Rosendael AR, El Mahdiui M, et al. - This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of clinical characteristics and statin use on quantitatively evaluated coronary plaque progression in a low-risk study population during long-term follow-up. This study included a total of 202 individuals who underwent serial coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) with a mean interscan period of 6.2±1.4 years. The primary outcome included coronary artery disease progression, defined as the absolute annual increase in total, calcified, and noncalcified plaque volume by quantitative CTA analysis. The results indicated that statin use was correlated with an increased progression of calcified coronary plaque and a reduced progression of noncalcified coronary plaque, potentially reflecting calcification of the noncalcified plaque component. The diabetes mellitus mainly led to an increase in calcified plaque whereas hypertension was the only modifiable risk factor predictive of noncalcified plaque progression.  These data could yield the requirement for intensified preventive treatment of individuals with diabetes mellitus and hypertension to slow and stabilize coronary artery disease progression and enhance clinical result.