Thoracic aortic calcium (TAC) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) are associated with
an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. However, risk factors
associated with arterial calcium may vary across vascular beds. We verified whether
TAC is associated with the same risk factors as is CAC in adults without established
CVD. Cross-sectional analysis including 2,433 participants (aged 38 to 78 years) of
ELSA-Brasil cohort in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Nonenhanced ECG-gated multislice computed
tomography were performed to detect calcium in the thoracic aorta and the coronaries
(2015 to 2016). Multivariate logistic regression evaluated the associations of both
TAC and CAC with CVD risk factors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol
intake, family history of CVD, low-density lipoprotein- and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,
HbA1c, blood pressure, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and lipid lowering medications).
Overall prevalence of TAC and CAC were 69% and 43%, respectively. CAC prevalence was
lower among women (31%) than men (56%) (Adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.30; 0.24 to 0.38).
After adjustments, black individuals were less likely to have any CAC as compared
with whites (OR 0.63; 0.47 to 0.86). Neither sex, nor race/skin color were statistically
associated with TAC. Use of antidiabetic medications remained associated with CAC
(OR 1.80; 1.23 to 2.631.01), but not with TAC. All other risk factors, except education,
alcohol, physical activity and HbA1c, persisted statistically associated with both
TAC and CAC in the final analysis, with small differences in the magnitudes of the
ORs. In conclusion, the only disagreements seen in the risk factors associated with
CAC and TAC were sex, race/skin color, and use of antidiabetic medications.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 06, 2019
Received in revised form:
August 25,
2019
Received:
June 5,
2019
Footnotes
Grant Support: The study was funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (Science and Technology Department) and the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FINEP and CNPq). Grant numbers: 01 06 0010·00 and 01·10·0643·03 (RS); 01 06 0212·00 and 01·10·0742-00 (BA); 01 06 0300·00 and 01·12·0284·00 (ES); 01 06 0278·00 and 01 10 0746 00 (MG); 01 06 0115·00 and 01·10·0773-00 (SP); and 01 06 0071·00 and 01·11·0093·01 (RJ). This study also received support from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES). S.M.B and A.L.P.R.. are recipients of an unrestricted award for established researchers from CNPq and are also supported by a research grant (Pesquisador Mineiro) from FAPEMIG, the research agency of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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