title: Correlation between coronary artery calcium score and aortic diameter in a high-risk population of elderly male hypertensive patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on the relationship between coronary artery calcium and aortic diameter are scarce. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the correlation between coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and maximal thoracic and abdominal aortic diameters in a population of elderly (>65 years) male hypertensive patients at high risk for coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2012 to April 2013, we prospectively enrolled 393 male hypertensive patients older than 65 years of age who had no history of aortic aneurysm. Coronary artery calcium and maximal diameters of the ascending thoracic aorta (ATAmax), descending thoracic aorta (DTAmax), and abdominal aorta (AAmax) were measured using noncontrast computed tomography imaging. Aortic diameters are indexed to body surface area (BSA). Participants were divided into five groups according to CACS (0, 1-10, 10-100, 100-400, and >400).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ATAmax/BSA, DTAmax/BSA, and AAmax/BSA were 22.0±2.7, 16.3±1.9, and 13.0±2.9 mm, respectively. On multivariate analysis, ATAmax/BSA was associated independently with age, diabetes, and history of aortic valve replacement (all P<0.001). DTAmax/BSA was associated independently with age (P<0.001). However, there were no significant correlations between thoracic aorta diameter and CACS. In contrast, AAmax/BSA was associated independently with CACS as well as age and history of smoking (P=0.014, 0.003, and 0.019, respectively). Abdominal aortic aneurysm (>30 mm) was more prevalent in patients with a CACS of 400 or more compared with the others (14 vs. 3%, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CACS was associated with increased abdominal aorta diameter, but not with thoracic aorta diameter. Therefore, screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is warranted in patients with a high risk of coronary artery disease and a high CACS. However, the necessity for thoracic aortic aneurysm screening is not clear in these patients.
authors: aDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Severance Hospital bSeverance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea and Departments of cRadiology dMedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College and the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
authors: In-Jeong
authors: IJ
authors: Cho
authors: Ran
authors: R
authors: Heo
authors: Hyuk-Jae
authors: HJ
authors: Chang
authors: Sanghoon
authors: S
authors: Shin
authors: Chi Young
authors: CY
authors: Shim
authors: Geu-Ru
authors: GR
authors: Hong
authors: James K
authors: JK
authors: Min
authors: Namsik
authors: N
authors: Chung
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*