title: Gravity of aortic arch calcification as evaluated in adult Greek patients.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, O Agios Dimitrios Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Symeonidis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giannakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mavridis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lakasas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kyriakidis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Artopoulos
mesh_terms: 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