Coronary Tortuosity Linked to Heart Condition Risks
Adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy face higher risks if their heart arteries appear twisted or curved.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Heart Disease
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New research has identified a significantly higher prevalence of coronary tortuosity, or twisted heart arteries, among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Those with this arterial shape experienced worse health outcomes during a mean follow-up period of 2.57 years.
Why it matters
Identifying coronary tortuosity in patients with this heart muscle disease may offer new prognostic value for assessing individual risk. This finding highlights a potential structural factor that could influence long-term health outcomes for those already managing cardiomyopathy.
In an observational cohort study of 195 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, researchers found a 3.02-fold increase in the odds of having coronary tortuosity. Patients with these twisted arteries experienced a 2.39 risk ratio for adverse outcomes compared to those without the condition.
The details
Coronary tortuosity involves abnormal twisting or curvature of the heart arteries, which can impair blood flow efficiency. A subgroup analysis using cardiovascular magnetic resonance strain found that patients with tortuosity had a lower basal global longitudinal displacement of 5.11, compared to 5.90 in those without the condition. Each 1-point increase in a patient's coronary tortuosity score was linked to a 51% higher hazard of adverse health outcomes.
Timeline
2.57 years was the mean follow-up period for the enrolled patient group.
Health Landscape
This research expands the application of cardiovascular magnetic resonance strain analysis by mapping structural arterial changes to functional myocardial performance. It adds a new layer of detail to the long-term clinical monitoring of patients with complex heart muscle conditions.
If you have been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it is worth discussing with your cardiologist whether imaging has identified any concerns regarding the structure or path of your coronary arteries. Understanding these structural factors can be a useful part of your overall risk assessment and treatment planning.
The takeaway
Coronary tortuosity is significantly more common in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and is linked to a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Ask your physician if your cardiac imaging shows any evidence of coronary tortuosity and how that finding might impact your personalized care plan.
Further reading
For more on managing heart conditions, visit our Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nature.
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