Carotid artery plaque thickness is associated with increased serum calcium levels: the Northern Manhattan study.
BACKGROUND
Elevated serum calcium concentrations are associated with vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether there is a relationship between high-normal serum calcium levels and sub-clinical vascular effects. We investigated the association between serum calcium and carotid plaque thickness, a powerful early predictor of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular events.


METHODS
Epidemiological study of 1194 subjects from the Northern Manhattan Study cohort, a prospective community-based study designed to investigate risk factors for vascular disease in different race-ethnic groups.


RESULTS
Subjects with carotid plaque had higher corrected serum calcium levels within the normal range than those without carotid plaque (2.21+/-0.09 mmol/L versus 2.19+/-0.09 mmol/L, p<0.002). The relationship between carotid plaque and serum calcium persisted after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects in the top quintile of maximal carotid plaque thickness (>or=1.7 mm) were more likely to be in the highest quintile of serum calcium level (OR=1.64, 95% CI=1.17-2.29, p<0.004). The interaction of age and corrected serum calcium was the most significant predictor of carotid plaque thickness when traditional vascular risk factors were considered (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum calcium levels in a multi-ethnic population of older men and women were positively associated with carotid plaque thickness, a powerful early predictor of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular events.
Rubin
Mishaela R
MR
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, PH8W-864, 630 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, USA.
Rundek
Tanja
T
McMahon
Donald J
DJ
Lee
Hye-Seung
HS
Sacco
Ralph L
RL
Silverberg
Shonni J
SJ
D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D002342:Carotid Artery, External / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People
D002118:Calcium