Coronary artery disease primarily results from which condition?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) primarily results from atherosclerosis, which is a condition characterized by the buildup of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other substances on the walls of coronary arteries. This buildup creates plaques that narrow the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart muscle and potentially leading to heart attacks or other cardiovascular events. Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that can begin in childhood but often becomes clinically significant later in life, making it the central pathological process in the development of CAD.

Factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension can accelerate the development of atherosclerosis. However, these are risk factors rather than the primary condition causing CAD. While they are important to manage to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, the fundamental issue at play is the atherosclerotic process itself, which directly leads to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries. This differentiation highlights why atherosclerosis is identified as the primary condition responsible for coronary artery disease.