[Relationship of coronary artery calcification identified by electron beam tomography with age and gender].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of coronary artery calcification identified by electron beam tomography with age and gender.


METHODS
Electron beam tomography was performed in 654 patients to detect coronary artery calcification. Examinations were done with electron beam tomography (Imatron C-150 XP), using prospective electrocardiography triggering to prevent cardiac motion artifacts. Total calcification scores were calculated based on the number, area and computed tomographic number of the calcifications. The influence of age and gender on the presence and amount of coronary artery calcification were evaluated.


RESULTS
There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in mean total calcification scores between men and women. Men always had more coronary artery calcification than women at all age groups. The youngest patient with coronary artery calcification was below 40 years of age in men and above 40 years of age in women. The difference in the prevalence of coronary artery calcification between men and women was great at younger ages, and decreased after age 60. The difference in prevalence of coronary artery calcification for men and women was starting to be decreased after age 60.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed that coronary artery calcification, a marker of arteriosclerosis, is strongly associated with age and gender.
Erdoğan
Nihan
N
Altin
Levent
L
Altunkan
Sekip
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology