Epidemiology and association of vascular and valvular calcium quantified by multidetector computed tomography in elderly asymptomatic subjects

Am J Cardiol. 2004 Aug 1;94(3):348-51. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.04.032.

Abstract

The epidemiology of and association between vascular and valvular calcium as quantified by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) were studied in 416 elderly subjects with no history of coronary artery disease. Coronary calcium (CC), descending thoracic aortic calcium (DTAC), aortic valve calcium (AVC), and mitral valve calcium (MVC) were present in 282 (68%), 214 (51%), 152 (37%), and 68 (16%) subjects, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age and gender, subjects with AVC (odds ratio [OR] 2.3), MVC (OR 2.81), and DTAC (OR 2.79) were independently and significantly more likely to have CC. Further evidence is provided for the notion that calcifications in those regions are associated and that MDCT can be used as a tool for the global assessment of vascular and valvular calcium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aorta, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / epidemiology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cohort Studies
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Heart Valve Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve / diagnostic imaging
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, Spiral Computed

Substances

  • Calcium