[Aortic calcification in CT. Correlation with risk factors and cardiovascular diseases]

Computed tomography is a much more sensitive method of identifying aortic calcification than conventional radiographic methods. The present study was undertaken to explore the importance of various cardiovascular risk factors with regard to their calcifying effect on the aorta. A total of 2,130 individuals, aged 8-88 years, were included. In all cases continuous 8-mm-thick CT slices were obtained from the thoracic inlet caudally to the adrenal glands. There was a significant relationship between aortic calcification and age, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes, relative body weight, hyperlipidemia and alcohol consumption. Aortic calcification was demonstrated to be strongly associated with vascular disease.