title: Breast arterial calcifications are correlated with subsequent development of coronary artery calcifications, but their aetiology is predominantly different.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether calcifications in breast arteries, as seen on mammograms, predict future development of coronary artery calcifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 499 women, aged 49-70 years, participating in a breast cancer screening program and investigated whether arterial calcifications in the breast (BAC) are associated with coronary arterial calcifications (CAC) after 9 years follow-up. Mammograms were reviewed for the presence of BAC. CAC was assessed by multi slice computed tomography (MSCT). With logistic regression analysis the independent effect of various risk factors on BAC and CAC was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BAC was present in 58 of 499 women (12%) and CAC score>0 was present in 262 of 499 women (53%). BAC was strongly associated with CAC (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.71-6.04) and this remained significant after adjustment for age at baseline and the duration of follow-up (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.10-4.23). Most CV risk factors were associated with CAC but not with BAC. Only parity was significantly associated with both increased CAC (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.21-3.60) and increased BAC (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.23-22.43). Breastfeeding was associated with BAC (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.40-8.23) but not with CAC (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.84-1.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast arterial calcifications are predictive of subsequent development of calcifications in the coronary arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Isala Klinieken, Groot Wezenland 20, 8011 JW Zwolle, The Netherlands. a.maas@diagram-zwolle.nl
authors.forename: Angela H E M
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.forename: Femke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atsma
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beijerinck
authors.forename: Jan J M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Deurenberg
authors.forename: Willem P Th M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed