title: Associations of cardiovascular disease risk factors and calcified atherosclerosis with aortoiliac bifurcation position: the MultiEthnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
abstract: We investigated associations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and calcified atherosclerosis with aortoiliac bifurcation position. The bifurcation position was determined by measuring the distance from the aortoiliac bifurcation to the L5-S1 disk space (or aortoiliac bifurcation distance [AIBD]), using computed tomography scans. The 1711 study participants (51% male) had a mean age of 62 ± 10 years and a mean AIBD of 26 ± 15 mm. In multivariable linear regression, older age, male gender, smoking, hypertension, larger aortic diameter, and smaller lumbar height were each independently associated with a smaller AIBD (more caudal bifurcation position). In contrast, diabetes, elevated triglycerides, and increased pulse pressure were independently associated with a larger AIBD (more cephalad bifurcation position). These findings suggest that age-related bifurcation descent is associated with CVD markers for aortic disease. Future studies should assess whether the bifurcation position is an independent prognosticator for CVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA nforbang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nketi I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Forbang
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joachim H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ix
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Criqui
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: abdominal aorta; aortoiliac bifurcation; atherosclerosis; diabetes