Valvular & structural heart disease

Prevalence and common cardiovascular risk factors in aortic valve calcification in the middle-aged general population

Eur J Prev CardiolPublished Cross-sectional study

Authors' conclusion

In this large, contemporary middle-aged general population, AVC was prevalent in as many as 7% and six cardiovascular risk factors contributed to one-third of the prevalence of AVC.

Study context

Population
Middle-aged general population aged 50–64 years, Sweden (SCAPIS), 2013–201829,221 with computed tomography (CT) included
Participants
30,154 participants
Outcome
Prevalence of AVC (visual assessment on CT) and associated characteristics
Methodological detailspopulation-based
  • Population-based

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

AVC prevalence

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) present

2053

7%

AVC prevalence, 50-54 years

3%

AVC prevalence, 55-59 years

7%

AVC prevalence, 60-64 years

11%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Factors associated with AVC (adjusted for age, sex, smoking and study site)

OR (95% CI)
Male sex2.02 (1.84–2.22)
Hyperlipidaemia1.88 (1.68–2.11)
Hypertension1.73 (1.57–1.91)
Diabetes1.66 (1.39–1.97)
Kidney dysfunction1.54 (1.10–2.11)
Smoking1.36 (1.24–1.50)
OutcomeOR (95% CI)
Factors associated with AVC (adjusted for age, sex, smoking and study site)Age (per year)1.12 (1.11–1.13)
Factors associated with AVC (adjusted for age, sex, smoking and study site)BMI (per unit)1.04 (1.03–1.05)

Population attributable risk proportion (PARP) of AVC for six modifiable risk factors

PARP
34.5% (95% CI 29.6-39.4)

Original publication

Prevalence and common cardiovascular risk factors in aortic valve calcification in the middle-aged general population. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 21 March 2025. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf157

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