title: Thoracoabdominal calcifications predict cardiovascular disease mortality in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects: 18-year follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality associated with thoracoabdominal calcifications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thoracoabdominal calcifications of native radiograms were evaluated in 833 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 1,292 subjects without diabetes, aged 45-64 years, without prior evidence of CVD. The type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic study cohorts were followed up for 18 years. RESULTS After adjustment for conventional risk factors, marked thoracoabdominal calcifications predicted CVD/total mortality with hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) of 1.5 (0.8-3.0)/1.8 (1.1-2.9) in type 2 diabetic men, 3.0 (1.6-5.7)/3.1 (1.9-5.0) in type 2 diabetic women, 5.0 (2.2-12)/4.0 (2.2-7.4) in nondiabetic men, and 7.8 (1.8-34)/3.0 (1.3-7.0) in nondiabetic women and in the presence of C-reactive protein below/over 3 mg/l with HR of 2.4 (1.3-4.4)/3.0 (1.4-6.1) in type 2 diabetic subjects and 4.0 (1.5-10.8)/6.6 (2.7-16.0) in nondiabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS Thoracoabdominal calcifications in native radiograms are significant predictors of CVD and total mortality, especially in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic women with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Auni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juutilainen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suhonen
authors.forename: Tapani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rönnemaa
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laakso
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors