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Familial aggregation of medial arterial calcification in Pima Indians with and without diabetes

K M Narayan1, D J Pettitt, R L Hanson

  • 1Diabetes and Arthritis Epidemiology Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Phoenix AZ 85014, USA. vna@cu.nih.gov

Diabetes Care
|September 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Medial arterial calcification (MAC) shows familial aggregation, indicating genetic factors may play a role. Parental MAC increases offspring risk, independent of diabetes, suggesting distinct underlying causes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular research
  • Genetics
  • Metabolic disorders

Background:

  • Medial arterial calcification (MAC) is a poorly understood condition linked to age, sex, diabetes, and its complications.
  • Familial aggregation studies are crucial for understanding the genetic contribution to MAC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the familial aggregation of medial arterial calcification (MAC).
  • To determine if familial MAC aggregation is independent of diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Radiological examination of MAC in the feet of 3,339 offspring from 1,256 Pima Indian nuclear families.
  • Multiple logistic regression analyses to assess the association between parental and offspring MAC, controlling for diabetes.

Main Results:

  • Offspring with one parent affected by MAC had 3.3 times the odds of MAC; those with both parents affected had 8.1 times the odds.
  • Parental MAC significantly predicted offspring MAC (P < 0.001), independent of parental age and diabetes.
  • Parental diabetes did not significantly predict offspring MAC when parental MAC was accounted for (P = 0.36).

Conclusions:

  • Parental MAC increases offspring MAC risk, independent of age, sex, and diabetes status.
  • Findings suggest distinct genetic or familial factors contribute to MAC compared to diabetes.
  • Further research into the genetic basis of MAC is warranted.
Abstract

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