Potential Cross-Talk Between Arterial Calcifications

Vascular calcification is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and an independent predictor of major cardiovascular events.

This study examines age-related correlations between abdominal aortic and coronary calcifications on CT to explore potential systemic vascular cross-talk.

In total, 921 patients (508 males (55%), 413 females (44.7%)) were grouped by age: 40-49, 50-69, and 70-90 years. Non-contrast abdominal CT was used to assess calcifications in the coronary arteries, thoracic aorta, suprarenal (AA (1)), renal (AA (2)), infrarenal aorta (AA (3)), iliac arteries, and femoral arteries. Aortic calcification was classified as none, <25%, 25%-50%, or ≥50%. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test with Bonferroni correction, and inter-rater reliability was assessed via ICC.

In the 50-69 age group, when AA (1) showed no calcification, LAD calcification was 17.9%. With <25% AA (1) calcification, LAD and Cx rates were 4% and 22%, respectively. In AA (2) and AA (3), these rates were similar (4%-23% and 4%-19%, respectively; P < 0.05). When the iliac or femoral arteries were free of calcification, the prevalence of LAD and Cx calcifications was 4%, 1%, and 6% for LAD, and 18%, 17%, and 14% for Cx, respectively. When calcification was present at <25%, these rates increased to 23%, 32%, and 29% for LAD, and 9%, 8%, and 13% for Cx (P < 0.05). No significant association was observed in other age groups. This relationship was not statistically significant in individuals aged 40-49 years and 70-90 years.

A significant association between AA calcification and Cx, as well as between post-aortic bifurcation calcifications and LAD calcifications, was found in individuals aged 50-69 years.