title: Differences in clinical profile of individuals with severe and markedly elevated coronary artery calcification detected by electron beam computed tomography.
abstract: Although several studies have demonstrated the association between coronary artery calcification (CAC) and coronary artery disease events, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, extensive CAC still remains a poorly understood phenomenon. The objective of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics and differences between 831 asymptomatic individuals with very high CAC scores (CACS ≥ 1000) and 497 asymptomatic individuals with CAC scores of 400 to 999. Individuals with CACS ≥ 1000 were more likely to have hypertension ([HTN]; P = .0004), hypercholesterolemia (P = .0001), diabetes mellitus ([DM] P = .005), and high body mass index ([BMI]; P = .03) compared with individuals with CACS = 400-999. On multivariable analysis, age (P < .0001) and BMI (P = .01) were found to be significant risk factors for the presence of very high CAC. While for males, age (P < .0001), hypercholesterolemia (P = .001), DM (P = .002), and obesity (P = .003) were independent risk factors; in females only HTN (P = .04) was independent risk factor.
authors: Heart Centre and Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Umea, Sweden. geokoul@hotmail.com
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Koulaouzidis
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Charisopoulou
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Maffrett
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Tighe
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Jenkins
authors: T
authors: T
authors: McArthur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult