Gravity of aortic arch calcification as evaluated in adult Greek patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gravity of aortic arch calcification in adult Greek patients.


METHODS
A total of 1027 patients (498 men, 529 women) were included. Aortic arch calcification was assessed by means of posteroanterior chest X-rays. These were studied by two radiologists blinded to the patients' medical records. Calcification was graded as follows: grade 0 (no visible calcification), grade 1 (small spots of calcification or single thin calcification of the aortic knob), grade 2 (one or more areas of thick calcification), grade 3 (circular calcification of the aortic knob). All patients were clinically and electrocardiographically examined for coronary artery disease. The other parameters included in the analysis were age, sex, smoking, body-mass index, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and history of stroke.


RESULTS
Calcification gravity was grade 0 in 421 patients (41%), grade 1 in 308 patients (30%), grade 2 in 216 patients (21%) and grade 3 in 82 patients (8%). In simple regression analysis the gravity of aortic arch calcification was positively correlated with age (p=0.01), diabetes mellitus (p=0.014), hypertension (p=0.022), dyslipidemia (p=0.038) and coronary artery disease (p=0.041). In multiple regression analysis it was associated with age (p=0.019), diabetes mellitus (p=0.02) and hypertension (p=0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Gravity of aortic arch calcification in adult Greek patients may easily be assessed on routine chest X-rays and is positively correlated with coronary artery disease, as well as important cardiovascular risk factors (age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia).
Symeonidis
G
G
Second Department of Internal Medicine, O Agios Dimitrios Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papanas
N
N
Giannakis
I
I
Mavridis
G
G
Lakasas
G
G
Kyriakidis
G
G
Artopoulos
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index