Arlette Odink MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Albert Hofman MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gabriel Paul Krestin MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Monique M. Breteler MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jacqueline Witteman, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aad Van Der Lugt MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

This study was performed to examine the association of cardiovascular risk factors with calcification in the coronary arteries, aortic arch and carotid arteries, assessed by multislice computed tomography (MSCT).

This study was part of the Rotterdam Study, a population-based study in subjects aged 55 years and over. From October 2003 until December 2004, subjects were invited to undergo an MSCT scan. Coronary, aortic arch and carotid calcification was quantified according to the Agatston score. The following cardiovascular risk factors were examined: smoking status, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, low HDL-cholesterol, obesity, diabetes mellitus. Current analyses were performed in the first 1003 subjects (aged 72 ± 6.4 years, 48% male).

Age and current smoking were independently associated with calcification in all vessel beds except for the coronary arteries in men. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes were significant or near significant risk factors for arterial calcification in all vessel beds except for hypertension in women in the aortic arch and in men in the carotid arteries, hypercholesterolemia for women in the aortic arch and diabetes for men in the aortic arch and carotid arteries. Obesity tended to be inversely related to arterial calcification in women, while low HDL-cholesterol showed no relation with arterial calcification.

In conclusion, our results showed that current smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were independently related to arterial calcification, although associations were not consistent across all vessel beds and across men and women. A tendency was present for an inverse association with obesity in women, while no association with low HDL-cholesterol and arterial calcification was present.

The results support the notion that coronary, aortic arch and carotid calcification measured by MSCT can be used as measures of atherosclerosis in these vessel beds.

Odink, A, Hofman, A, Krestin, G, Breteler, M, Witteman, J, Van Der Lugt, A, Risk Factors for Coronary, Aortic Arch, and Carotid Calcification: The Rotterdam Study.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4434214.html