Seolhye Kim1, Yoosoo Chang2, Eunju Sung3, Jeong Gyu Kang1, Kyung Eun Yun1, Hyun-Suk Jung1, Young Youl Hyun4, Kyu-Beck Lee4, Kwan Joong Joo5, Hocheol Shin6, Seungho Ryu7. 1. Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 2. Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Family Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: eunjusung68@gmail.com. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 5. Department of Urology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 6. Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Family Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 7. Center for Cohort Studies, Total Healthcare Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: sh703.yoo@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although recent studies suggest an association between nephrolithiasis and clinical cardiovascular events, this association has been underexplored. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 62,091 asymptomatic adults without known coronary heart disease who underwent a screening health examination that included cardiac tomography. PREDICTOR: Nephrolithiasis. OUTCOME: Coronary artery calcification (CAC). MEASUREMENTS: Nephrolithiasis assessed using ultrasonography of the abdomen. CAC scoring assessed using cardiac computed tomography. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAC scores > 0 was 13.1% overall. Participants with nephrolithiasis had a higher prevalence of coronary calcification than those without (19.1% vs 12.8%). In Tobit models adjusted for age and sex, the CAC score ratio comparing participants with nephrolithiasis with those without nephrolithiasis was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.19-2.05). After further adjustment for screening center, year of screening examination, physical activity, alcohol intake, smoking status, education level, body mass index, family history of cardiovascular disease, total energy intake, glucose concentration, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride concentration, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, uric acid concentration, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, the CAC score ratio was attenuated, but remained significant (CAC score ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.71). LIMITATIONS: Computed tomographic diagnosis of nephrolithiasis was unavailable. CONCLUSIONS: Nephrolithiasis was associated with the presence of CAC in adults without known coronary heart disease, supporting the hypothesis that these 2 health conditions share a common pathophysiology.
BACKGROUND: Although recent studies suggest an association between nephrolithiasis and clinical cardiovascular events, this association has been underexplored. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 62,091 asymptomatic adults without known coronary heart disease who underwent a screening health examination that included cardiac tomography. PREDICTOR: Nephrolithiasis. OUTCOME: Coronary artery calcification (CAC). MEASUREMENTS: Nephrolithiasis assessed using ultrasonography of the abdomen. CAC scoring assessed using cardiac computed tomography. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAC scores > 0 was 13.1% overall. Participants with nephrolithiasis had a higher prevalence of coronary calcification than those without (19.1% vs 12.8%). In Tobit models adjusted for age and sex, the CAC score ratio comparing participants with nephrolithiasis with those without nephrolithiasis was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.19-2.05). After further adjustment for screening center, year of screening examination, physical activity, alcohol intake, smoking status, education level, body mass index, family history of cardiovascular disease, total energy intake, glucose concentration, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride concentration, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, uric acid concentration, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, the CAC score ratio was attenuated, but remained significant (CAC score ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.71). LIMITATIONS: Computed tomographic diagnosis of nephrolithiasis was unavailable. CONCLUSIONS:Nephrolithiasis was associated with the presence of CAC in adults without known coronary heart disease, supporting the hypothesis that these 2 health conditions share a common pathophysiology.