BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT measures the atherosclerotic plaque burden and has been reported to predict coronary events. Because atherosclerosis is a generalized process, coronary calcification may also be associated with manifest atherosclerotic disease at other sites of the vascular tree. We examined whether coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT is related to the presence of stroke. METHODS: From 1997 onward, subjects were invited to participate in the prospective Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study and undergo electron-beam CT to detect coronary calcification. The study was embedded in the population-based Rotterdam Study. Calcifications were quantified in a calcium score according to Agatston's method. Calcium scores were available for 2013 subjects (mean age [SD], 71 [5.7] years). Fifty subjects had experienced stroke before scanning. RESULTS: Subjects were 2 times more likely to have experienced stroke when their calcium score was between 101 and 500 (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9 to 4.7) and 3 times more likely when their calcium score was above 500 (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5 to 7.2), compared with subjects in the lowest calcium score category (0 to 100). Additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors did not materially alter the risk estimates. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, a markedly graded association was found between coronary calcification and stroke. The results suggest that coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT may be useful to identify subjects at high risk of stroke.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT measures the atherosclerotic plaque burden and has been reported to predict coronary events. Because atherosclerosis is a generalized process, coronary calcification may also be associated with manifest atherosclerotic disease at other sites of the vascular tree. We examined whether coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT is related to the presence of stroke. METHODS: From 1997 onward, subjects were invited to participate in the prospective Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study and undergo electron-beam CT to detect coronary calcification. The study was embedded in the population-based Rotterdam Study. Calcifications were quantified in a calcium score according to Agatston's method. Calcium scores were available for 2013 subjects (mean age [SD], 71 [5.7] years). Fifty subjects had experienced stroke before scanning. RESULTS: Subjects were 2 times more likely to have experienced stroke when their calcium score was between 101 and 500 (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9 to 4.7) and 3 times more likely when their calcium score was above 500 (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5 to 7.2), compared with subjects in the lowest calcium score category (0 to 100). Additional adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors did not materially alter the risk estimates. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, a markedly graded association was found between coronary calcification and stroke. The results suggest that coronary calcification as detected by electron-beam CT may be useful to identify subjects at high risk of stroke.
Authors: Kazuhiro Osawa; Rine Nakanishi; Robyn L McClelland; Joseph F Polak; Warrick Bishop; Ralph L Sacco; Indre Ceponiene; Negin Nezarat; Sina Rahmani; Hong Qi; Mitsuru Kanisawa; Matthew J Budoff Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2018-05-17 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: D W Bowden; A B Lehtinen; J T Ziegler; M E Rudock; J Xu; L E Wagenknecht; D M Herrington; S S Rich; B I Freedman; J J Carr; C D Langefeld Journal: Ann Hum Genet Date: 2008-04-29 Impact factor: 1.670
Authors: Nikola Gotovac; Ivana Išgum; Max A Viergever; Geert J Biessels; Josip Fajdić; Birgitta K Velthuis; Mathias Prokop Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2013-01-18 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: R J M W Rennenberg; A G H Kessels; L J Schurgers; J M A van Engelshoven; P W de Leeuw; A A Kroon Journal: Vasc Health Risk Manag Date: 2009-04-08