Thoracic Aortic Calcium Density and Area in Long-Term Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Men Versus Women
Authors' conclusion
TAC density-area phenotypes do not consistently associate with ASCVD mortality though low TAC density relative to area may be a marker of increased ASCVD risk in women.
Study context
- Population
- Primary prevention patients with thoracic aortic calcium (TAC) >0 on noncontrast cardiac gated CT for coronary artery calcium scoring38% women
- Participants
- 5,317 patients
- Exposure
- TAC density-area groups, men vs women
- Outcome
- ASCVD mortality
- Follow-up
- median 11.7-year follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
median 11.7 years
Low TAC density/high TAC area
3.6 per 1000 person-years
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) death rate, women
High-density-high-area
4.8 per 1000 person-years
ASCVD death rate, women
Low TAC density/high TAC area vs Low TAC density-areaAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Women
3.75(1.13–12.44)
Men
1.16(0.48–2.84)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Risk factors most strongly associated with low TAC density/high TAC area
| Adjusted OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| DiabetesWomen | 2.61 (1.34–5.07) | |
| HypertensionMen | 1.45 (1.11–1.90) | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| TAC characteristics, women vs men | ||
| TAC score | 97 Agatston units | 84 Agatston units |
| Density | 223 Hounsfield units | 210 Hounsfield units |
| Area | 37 mm² | 32 mm² |
- TAC characteristics, women vs men: TAC score P=0.004
- TAC characteristics, women vs men: density P<0.001
- TAC characteristics, women vs men: area P=0.006
Original publication
Thoracic Aortic Calcium Density and Area in Long-Term Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Men Versus Women. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 6 December 2023. doi:10.
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