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Editor's Choice - Calcification of Thoracic and Abdominal Aneurysms is Associated with Mortality and Morbidity

Mohammed M Chowdhury1, Lukasz P Zieliński1, James J Sun1

  • 1Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital Trust, Cambridge, UK.

European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery : the Official Journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery
|December 12, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Calcification in aortic aneurysms, both abdominal and thoracic, predicts higher mortality. Calcium scoring from CT scans can identify high-risk patients for cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular events are frequent in patients with aortic aneurysms.
  • Arterial calcification predicts cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease.
  • The link between aortic aneurysm wall calcification and cardiovascular outcomes is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between arterial calcification within aortic aneurysm walls and cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To determine if calcium scoring from CT scans can predict mortality in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA).

Main Methods:

  • Calcium scores were calculated using the modified Agatston score from CT scans of 319 patients with AAA or TAA.
  • The study followed patients for subsequent all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and morbidity.

Main Results:

  • In AAA patients, calcium score significantly correlated with all-cause mortality (OR 2.246) and cardiac mortality (OR 1.321).
  • In TAA patients, calcium score significantly correlated with all-cause mortality (OR 6.444), cardiac mortality (OR 3.456), and cardiac morbidity (OR 2.128).

Conclusions:

  • Aortic aneurysm calcification is significantly associated with increased overall and cardiovascular mortality.
  • Calcium scoring from routine CT scans can identify high-risk patients needing closer monitoring and intervention.
Abstract

Keywords:
AtherosclerosisCalcificationComputed tomographyThoracic abdominal aortic aneurysm

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