Cardiovasc Imaging Asia.  2021 Jul;5(3):100-106. 10.22468/cvia.2021.00185.

Risk Factors of Coronary Calcium Onset in Healthy Japanese Individuals: A Longitudinal Study Using Low-Dose Chest CT

• Izoe Y
• Nagao M
• Chida K

• KMID: 2519020
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22468/cvia.2021.00185

Abstract

Objective
Detection of coronary artery calcification (CAC) in healthy individuals and investigation of this risk factor are useful for preventing heart disease. One aim of this study was to quantify CAC using low-dose chest CT longitudinally performed for lung cancer screening. The other aim was to identify the risk factors related to CAC onset in healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods
Here, 203 individuals (mean age, 53 years) who underwent health screening and CT were enrolled. A total of 1108 CT examinations (mean follow-up period, 56 months) was analyzed. CAC (mm³ ) was defined as a high-density area with a CT value >130 Hounsfield units along coronary arteries. Subjects with a CAC >14 mm 3 were defined as CAC onset; the others were defined as non-CAC.
Results
CAC onset and non-CAC were observed in 27 (13%) and 176 (87%) subjects, respectively. Age and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were significantly higher and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower for CAC onset than for non-CAC (57.1±4.3 years vs. 55.0±5.2 years, 6.1%±1.5% vs. 5.6%±0.7%, and 70.6±12.9 mL/min vs. 73.5±11.5 mL/min, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that CAC onset was significantly related to age [odds ratio (OR), 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.10], male (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.05–2.42), HbA1c level (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.47–2.14), and eGFR (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95–0.99).
Conclusion
CAC occurred in about 10% of healthy middle-aged subjects and is associated with early glucose intolerance and a slight decline in renal function.

Keyword

Atherosclerosis; Coronary arteries; Life style; Health care