title: Coronary artery calcification is associated with the development of hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension (HTN) is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC). We hypothesized that preexisting CAC is associated with the development of HTN.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 483 normotensive subjects (mean age 54 years, 83% males) who underwent a baseline evaluation of their CAC score with ungated dual-section computed tomography during 2001-2002 and returned for at least the first annual follow-up. All subjects underwent an annual examination and were followed for a mean period of 6.6 ± 3.2 years to identify newly developed HTN. Data on the patient's medical history, physical examination and laboratory evaluations were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up, 104 subjects developed HTN. The rate of newly developed HTN was significantly higher among those with CAC (60 of 223 subjects; 27%) than among those without CAC (44 of 260; 17%) (P < 0.01). The presence of CAC predicted the development of HTN with a hazard ratio of 1.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.56; P < 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, baseline systolic blood pressure, and levels of glucose, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the presence of CAC still predicted the development of HTN with a hazard ratio of 1.63 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-2.60; P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preexisting CAC is associated with the development of HTN.
authors: Internal Medicine D Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel.
authors: Chagai
authors: C
authors: Grossman
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Shemesh
authors: Zamir
authors: Z
authors: Dovrish
authors: Nira Koren
authors: NK
authors: Morag
authors: Shlomo
authors: S
authors: Segev
authors: Ehud
authors: E
authors: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed