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Aortic valve calcification among elderly males from the general population, associated echocardiographic findings,

Lida Khurrami1, Jacob Eifer Møller1,2, Jes Sanddal Lindholt3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, J. B. Winsløws Vej 4, Odense 5000, Denmark.

European Heart Journal. Cardiovascular Imaging
|September 7, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) scores in men aged 65-74 are linked to heart changes like left atrial dilatation and left ventricular hypertrophy. Higher AVC scores correlate with increased risk of aortic valve replacement.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Radiology
  • Geriatrics

Background:

  • Aortic valve calcification (AVC) detected by non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is linked to poor outcomes in patients with aortic valve stenosis.
  • The significance of AVC in the general population remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between AVC scores from NCCT and echocardiographic findings in men aged 65-74 with AVC scores ≥300 AU.
  • To determine the relationship between AVC severity and left atrial (LA) dilatation, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, aortic valve area (AVA), peak velocity, mean gradient, and aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 10,471 males aged 65-74 from the Danish Cardiovascular Screening trial (DANCAVAS).
  • Participants with AVC score ≥300 AU underwent transthoracic echocardiography.
  • AVC scores were categorized, and associations with echocardiographic parameters and AVR from registries were examined.

Main Results:

  • Increasing AVC scores were significantly associated with LA dilatation, LV hypertrophy, increased peak aortic velocity, increased mean aortic gradient, and decreased AVA.
  • Optimal AVC score thresholds were identified for predicting AVA ≤1.5 cm², peak velocity ≥3.0 m/s, and mean gradient ≥20 mmHg.
  • AVC > 1200 AU was strongly associated with AVR (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

  • In a general male population aged 65-74, higher AVC scores are associated with adverse cardiac remodeling and hemodynamics.
  • AVC scoring on NCCT can provide valuable prognostic information regarding valvular heart disease progression and the need for AVR.
Abstract

Keywords:
aortic stenosisaortic valve calcificationcardiac CTepidemiology

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