Can the presence of carotid artery calcification on panoramic radiographs predict the risk of vascular diseases among 80-year-olds?
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.
Tanaka
Tatsurou
T
Department of Oral Diagnostic Science, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Morimoto
Yasuhiro
Y
Ansai
Toshihiro
T
Okabe
Sachiko
S
Yamada
Kazuhiro
K
Taguchi
Akira
A
Awano
Shuji
S
Kito
Shinji
S
Takata
Yutaka
Y
Takehara
Tadamichi
T
Ohba
Takeshi
T
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