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Relation of Iliac Artery Calcium With Adiposity Measures and Peripheral Artery Disease

Jane J Lee1, Alison Pedley1, Ido Weinberg2

  • 1Boston University's and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, Massachusetts.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|February 22, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Iliac artery calcium (IAC) burden is linked to increased peripheral artery disease (PAD) risk, but not associated with adiposity measures. This finding enhances understanding of arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Radiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Arterial calcification, particularly iliac artery calcium (IAC), is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • Understanding the pathogenesis of IAC and its relationship with other cardiovascular risk factors is crucial for disease prevention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the burden of iliac artery calcium (IAC) and adiposity measures.
  • To examine the relationship between IAC and peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a large cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to quantify IAC in 1,236 participants from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort.
  • Defined high IAC using gender-specific 90th percentile cut-offs and PAD based on ankle-brachial index, intermittent claudication, or lower extremity revascularization history.
  • Employed multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models to assess the association between PAD and IAC, controlling for coronary artery calcium.

Main Results:

  • High IAC prevalence was 20.5% in women and 25.5% in men.
  • No significant association was found between high IAC and generalized or area-specific adiposity measures (p ≥0.22).
  • High IAC was strongly associated with increased odds of PAD (OR 10.36), an association that persisted after adjusting for coronary artery calcium (OR 11.25).

Conclusions:

  • The burden of iliac artery calcium is significantly associated with an increased risk of peripheral artery disease.
  • Iliac artery calcification is not directly associated with measures of adiposity, suggesting distinct pathophysiological pathways.
  • These findings contribute to a better understanding of arterial calcification and its role in the development of peripheral artery disease.

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