Coronary and aortic calcifications inter-relationship in stable angina pectoris: A Coronary Disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS (ACTION)--Israeli spiral computed tomography substudy.
BACKGROUND
Coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adults, and cerebrovascular disease is associated with the presence of symptomatic and asymptomatic CHD. Several studies noted an association between coronary calcification and thoracic aorta calcification by several imaging techniques, but this association has not yet been examined in stable angina pectoris patients with the use of spiral computed tomography.


OBJECTIVE
To examine by spiral CT the association between the presence and severity of CC and thoracic aorta calcification in patients with stable angina pectoris.


METHODS
The patients were enrolled in ACTION (A Coronary Disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS) in Israel. The 432 patients (371 men and 61 women aged 40-89 years) underwent chest CT and were evaluated for CC and aortic calcification.


RESULTS
CC was documented in 90% of the patients (n = 392) and aortic calcification in 70% (n = 303). A significant association (P < 0.05) was found between severity of CC and severity of aortic calcification (as measured by area, volume and slices of calcification). We also found an association between the number of coronary vessels calcified and the presence of aortic calcification: 90% of patients with triple-vessel disease (n = 157) were also positive for aortic calcification (P < 0.05). Age also had an effect: 87% of patients > 65 years (n=219) were positive for both coronary and aortic calcification (P = 0.005) while only 57% < or = 65 (n = 209) were positive for both (P = 0.081).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates a strong association between the presence and severity of CC and the presence and severity of calcification of thoracic aorta in patients with stable angina pectoris as detected by spiral CT.
Eisen
Alon
A
Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute, Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Tenenbaum
Alexander
A
Koren-Morag
Nira
N
Tanne
David
D
Shemesh
Joseph
J
Golan
Avivit
A
Fisman
Enrique Z
EZ
Motro
Michael
M
Schwammenthal
Ehud
E
Adler
Yehuda
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009543:Nifedipine