Aortic stiffness and calcification in men in a population-based international study

ObjectivesAortic stiffness, a hallmark of vascular aging, is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The association of aortic stiffness with aortic calcification in middle-aged general population remains unknown although studies in patients with end-stage renal disease or elderly subjects suggest that aortic calcification is an important determinant of aortic stiffness. The goal of this study was to examine the association of aortic calcification and stiffness in multi-ethnic population-based samples of relatively young men.MethodsWe examined the association in 906 men aged 40-49 (81 Black Americans, 276 Japanese Americans, 258 White Americans and 291 Koreans). Aortic stiffness was measured as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) using an automated waveform analyzer. Aortic calcification from aortic arch to iliac bifurcation was evaluated using electron-beam computed tomography.ResultsAortic calcium score was calculated and was categorized into four groups: zero (n = 303), 1-100 (n = 411), 101-300 (n = 110), and 401+ (n = 82). Aortic calcification category had a significant positive association with cfPWV after adjusting for age, race, and mean arterial pressure (mean (standard error) of cfPWV (cm/s) from the lowest to highest categories: 836 (10), 850 (9), 877 (17) and 941 (19), P for trend <0.001). The significant positive association remained after further adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors. The significant positive association was also observed in each race group.ConclusionsThe results suggest that aortic calcification can be one mechanism for aortic stiffness and that the association of aortic calcification with stiffness starts as early as the 40s.

► Aortic stiffness is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease. ► We examined the association of aortic stiffness with aortic calcification. ► We examined it in a population-based multi-ethnic cohort of 906 healthy men. ► Aortic stiffness was measured as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). ► cfPWV had a significant positive association with aortic calcification.