title: Ten-year progression of coronary artery, carotid artery, and aortic calcification in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased vascular calcification, although the rate of progress of calcification is uncertain. The aim of the study was to evaluate the progression of and the predictors for calcification in different vascular beds over 10 years. The 10-year actual coronary calcium score (CS) and 10-year predicted coronary CS, based on the pattern of the general population, were compared. Calcification of the coronary and carotid artery and the aorta was assessed by multi-detector computed tomography. Significant CS progression was determined by the difference between the square root of baseline and square root of follow-up calcium score (i.e., SQRT method). The 10-year predicted coronary CS was based on the mathematical formula derived by the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. A total of 49 patients (54 ± 11 years, 90% female) had a follow-up scan after 10.0 ± 0.2 years. The CS in all vascular beds was significantly increased; 55% of the patients had a significant progression of CS in the coronary, 29% in the carotid, and 80% in the aorta. Age and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were independently associated with calcification progression in all vascular beds. Importantly, the absolute increase in 10-year actual coronary CS was significantly higher than that predicted. In patients with RA, calcification in all vascular beds significantly increased over 10 years and was independently associated with age and SBP. Importantly, the absolute increase in 10-year actual coronary CS progression was significantly higher than that predicted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China.|Department of medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ju-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ho-Yin
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ka-Fung
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Pek-Lan
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Khong
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Chak-Sing
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China.|Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Hung-Fat
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Rm 1929b, Block K, Hong Kong, China. khkyiu@hku.hk.|Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. khkyiu@hku.hk.|Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Hong Kong, China. khkyiu@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Kai-Hang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002681:China; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular diseases; Imaging; Multi-detector computed tomography; Rheumatoid arthritis