Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026

Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images
Published on: September 22, 2023
Association between arterial elasticity indices and coronary artery calcium in a healthy multi-ethnic cohort
Sidakpal S Panaich1, Sandip K Zalawadiya, Vikas Veeranna
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 84201, USA.
Objectives:
Reduced arterial elasticity is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Our main objective was to evaluate the association between large arterial elasticity (LAE) and small arterial elasticity (SAE) with subclinical atherosclerosis as reflected by the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).
Methods:
The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) includes a multi-ethnic, population-based cohort (n = 6,814), aged 45-84 years, free from clinical cardiovascular disease. We undertook a post hoc analysis of the NHLBI limited access data set of MESA subjects (n = 6,278) to evaluate the association between LAE and SAE with CACS [divided in to 4 categories: none (reference), 1-99, 100-299, and ≥ 300] using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis.
Results:
After adjustments for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medications use, race, smoking, diabetes, high-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, both LAE [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.65; 95% CI 0.49-0.87 for CACS ≥ 300] and SAE (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.83 for CACS ≥ 300) were significantly (p < 0.001 for both) associated with a higher CACS.
Conclusion:
Both LAE and SAE, independent of traditional risk factors and inflammation, are associated with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
