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Aortic stiffness and calcification in men in a population-based international study

Akira Sekikawa1, Chol Shin, J David Curb

  • 1Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. akira@pitt.edu

Atherosclerosis
|April 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Aortic calcification is linked to increased aortic stiffness in middle-aged men, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Vascular Aging Research
  • Public Health Epidemiology

Background:

  • Aortic stiffness, a key indicator of vascular aging, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality.
  • The relationship between aortic calcification and aortic stiffness in middle-aged populations is not well-established.
  • Existing research primarily focuses on elderly individuals or those with end-stage renal disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between aortic calcification and aortic stiffness.
  • To examine this relationship in a multi-ethnic cohort of men in their 40s.
  • To understand the early onset of vascular aging mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 906 men aged 40-49 from diverse ethnic backgrounds (Black Americans, Japanese Americans, White Americans, Koreans) was studied.
  • Aortic stiffness was quantified using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV).
  • Aortic calcification was assessed via electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT).

Main Results:

  • A significant positive association was found between aortic calcification levels and cfPWV.
  • This association persisted after adjusting for age, race, mean arterial pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors.
  • The positive correlation between aortic calcification and stiffness was consistent across all studied racial groups.

Conclusions:

  • Aortic calcification may be a contributing mechanism to aortic stiffness.
  • The link between aortic calcification and stiffness begins in middle age (40s).
  • Early detection and management of aortic calcification could be crucial for preventing vascular aging.
Abstract

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