TY - JOUR

T1 - Aortic enlargement and coronary artery calcification in a general population cohort

AU - Ballegaard, Christian R.

AU - Pham, Michael H.C.

AU - Sigvardsen, Per E.

AU - Kühl, J. Tobias

AU - Sørgaard, Mathias

AU - Taudorf, Mikkel

AU - Fuchs, Andreas

AU - Nordestgaard, Børge G.

AU - Køber, Lars V.

AU - Kofoed, Klaus F.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Aims: The role of atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of aortic enlargement is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the diameters of the ascending, descending and abdominal aorta, and coronary artery calcification. Methods and results: Individuals in the Copenhagen General Population Study underwent thoracic and abdominal computed tomography. Maximal aortic diameters were measured in each aortic segment and coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) were calculated. Participants were stratified into five predefined groups according to CACSs and compared to aortic dimensions. The relation between aortic diameter and CACS was adjusted for risk factors for aortic dilatation in a multivariable model. A total of 2678 eligible individuals were included. In all segments of the aorta, aortic diameter was associated to CACSs, with mean increases in aortic diameters ranging from 0.7 to 3.5 mm in individuals with calcified coronary arteries compared to non-calcified subjects (P-value < 0.001). After correction for risk factors, individuals with CACS above 400 had larger ascending, descending and abdominal aortic diameter than the non-calcified reference group (P-value < 0.01). Conclusion: Enlarged thoracic and abdominal aortic vascular segments are associated with co-existing coronary artery calcification in the general population.

AB - Aims: The role of atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of aortic enlargement is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the diameters of the ascending, descending and abdominal aorta, and coronary artery calcification. Methods and results: Individuals in the Copenhagen General Population Study underwent thoracic and abdominal computed tomography. Maximal aortic diameters were measured in each aortic segment and coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) were calculated. Participants were stratified into five predefined groups according to CACSs and compared to aortic dimensions. The relation between aortic diameter and CACS was adjusted for risk factors for aortic dilatation in a multivariable model. A total of 2678 eligible individuals were included. In all segments of the aorta, aortic diameter was associated to CACSs, with mean increases in aortic diameters ranging from 0.7 to 3.5 mm in individuals with calcified coronary arteries compared to non-calcified subjects (P-value < 0.001). After correction for risk factors, individuals with CACS above 400 had larger ascending, descending and abdominal aortic diameter than the non-calcified reference group (P-value < 0.01). Conclusion: Enlarged thoracic and abdominal aortic vascular segments are associated with co-existing coronary artery calcification in the general population.

KW - aortic dimensions

KW - atherosclerosis

KW - computed tomography angiography

KW - coronary artery calcium score

U2 - 10.1093/ehjci/jeab122

DO - 10.1093/ehjci/jeab122

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34166489

AN - SCOPUS:85131268166

VL - 23

SP - 855

EP - 862

JO - European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging

JF - European Heart Journal Cardiovascular Imaging

SN - 2047-2404

IS - 6

ER -