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Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
08:43

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

Associations between modifiable lifestyle risk factors and abdominal aortic calcification in the UK Biobank Imaging

Nicola P Bondonno1, Abadi K Gebre2, Benjamin H Parmenter2

  • 1Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; The Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases : NMCD
|June 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A healthy lifestyle score significantly reduces the risk of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and subsequent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), particularly in women and younger individuals. Adopting healthy habits early can prevent high AAC levels and ASCVD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Public Health and Lifestyle Medicine
  • Medical Imaging and Diagnostics

Background:

  • Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is an indicator of subclinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
  • Lifestyle factors influencing AAC and its role in the association between healthy lifestyle and ASCVD are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between a Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) and AAC.
  • To determine if AAC mediates the association between HLS and incident ASCVD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized UK Biobank Imaging data from 27,818 participants to assess AAC via DXA images.
  • Developed an HLS based on smoking, physical activity, diet, alcohol, sleep, and BMI.
  • Employed logistic and Cox regression models for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, including mediation analysis.

Main Results:

  • Higher HLS was associated with significantly lower odds of any AAC (10-18% reduction) and high AAC (21-66% reduction).
  • These protective effects were more pronounced in women and individuals younger than 65.
  • Each one-point increase in HLS correlated with a 4% reduction in incident ASCVD, with high AAC mediating 20% of this effect.

Conclusions:

  • Promoting healthy lifestyle factors, especially from a younger age, can effectively reduce high AAC.
  • Preventing high AAC levels through lifestyle modification is a viable strategy to lower ASCVD risk.
Abstract

Keywords:
Aortovascular diseaseDXASubclinical cardiovascular diseaseVascular calcification

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