title: Determinants of left main calcifications in a cohort of 2136 diabetes patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left main (LM) calcification has been shown to be an independent predictor of mortality. Diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcification (CAC). In this study we aimed to describe the predictors of LM calcification in diabetes patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a database of >25,000 patients who have undergone CAC scanning at our institution, consecutive diabetic patients (n=2136) were evaluated for demographic data, CAC scores and coronary risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our cohort 29.1% of patients had LM CAC. Of the classical atherosclerosis risk factors, in binary regression analysis, only age (OR 1.03 [1.017-1.043]), male gender (OR 1.59; p<0.05), hypertension (OR 1.73; p<0.05), and CAC score (OR 1.001; p<0.05) were found to be independently associated with LM disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of LM CAC is high amongst diabetics (29.1%); associated with increased age, HTN and male sex.
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isma'eel
authors.forename: Yasmin S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hamirani
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Daga
authors.forename: Jigar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadakia
authors.forename: Songshuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Budoff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors