title: Can the presence of carotid artery calcification on panoramic radiographs predict the risk of vascular diseases among 80-year-olds?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether subsequent vascular diseases and related death could be predicted by the presence of carotid artery calcification detected on panoramic radiographs among elderly persons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 659 panoramic radiographs from 262 male and 397 female 80-year-old subjects and their general medical examination data to assess the relationship between the presence of carotid artery calcification and vascular disease risk at baseline examination. Of these subjects, the occurrence of vascular diseases within 5 years after baseline examination was examined in 191 subjects. Further, the causes of death were examined in 108 subjects who died within 5 years after baseline examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the history of past vascular diseases among subjects with and without carotid artery calcifications; however, no significant difference in the occurrence of subsequent vascular diseases was found among them. Further, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of vascular disease-related death within 5 years after baseline examination among subjects with and without carotid artery calcifications (P = 0.719).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the presence of carotid artery calcifications on panoramic radiographs may be related to the history of past vascular diseases; however, this is not a useful marker for subsequent vascular diseases and related death among 80-year-olds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Diagnostic Science, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsurou
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ansai
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Awano
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kito
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Tadamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohba
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012307:Risk Factors