title: Progression of coronary artery calcification in asymptomatic individuals with pre-existing calcium score.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been introduced as a reliable, non-invasive marker of atherosclerosis. In this retrospective study, we investigated the progression of CAC using electron beam computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 598 individuals (521 males; mean age: 59.3±8.3 years) with initial CAC score (CACS) ≥10. The mean interscan period was 2.4±1.35 years (range: 1-7 years). The mean CACS, for the entire cohort, was 262.4±423.9 at baseline scan and 380.3±547.6 at follow-up. The mean annualized progression in CACS was 57.7±123.7; 47.4±66.5 in females and 58.3±128.1 in males (P=0.46). The mean annualized progression in CACS was 39.6±61.3 in individuals <60 years and 75.7±161.5 in individuals >60 years (P=0.0003). In multivariate analysis, only baseline CACS (P<0.0001) and smoking (P=0.002) were independently associated with the annual change in CACS.
authors.affiliation: Heart Centre and Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Umea, Sweden. geokoul@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koulaouzidis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charisopoulou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maffrett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tighe
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McArthur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism