Predicting Long-Term Absence of Coronary Artery Calcium in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes: The MESA Study

Alexander C. Razavi, Nathan Wong, Matthew Budoff, Lydia A. Bazzano, Tanika N. Kelly, Jiang He, Camilo Fernandez, Joao Lima, Joseph F. Polak, Morgana Mongraw-Chaffin, Chris deFilippi, Moyses Szklo, Alain G. Bertoni, Roger S. Blumenthal, Michael J. Blaha, Seamus P. Whelton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of healthy arterial aging (long-term coronary artery calcification [CAC] of 0) among individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may improve primary prevention strategies. Background: Individuals with MetS or T2D have a heterogeneously increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and not all have a high-intermediate risk. Methods: We included 574 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) with MetS or T2D who had CAC=0 at baseline and a repeat CAC scan 10 years later. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association of traditional and novel atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors and the MetS severity score (based on the 5 MetS criteria) with healthy arterial aging. Results: The mean age of participants was 58.9 years, 67% were women, 422 participants had MetS, and 152 had T2D. The proportion with long-term CAC=0 was similar for MetS (42%) and T2D (44%). A younger age was the only individual low/normal traditional risk factor associated with an increased likelihood of long-term CAC=0 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22 to 1.85 per 10-years younger). The strongest associations of nontraditional risk factors were observed for an absence of thoracic calcification (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.24 to 4.72), absence of carotid plaque (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.61), and among persons with a high sensitivity troponin <3 ng/ml (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.38). In addition, persons with the lowest quartile MetS severity score had a substantially higher odds of healthy long-term CAC=0 (OR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.27 to 5.76). ConclusionS: More than 40% of adults with MetS or T2D and baseline CAC=0 had long-term absence of CAC, which was most strongly associated with an absence of extracoronary atherosclerosis and a low MetS score. An optimal overall cardiovascular profile appears to be more important than an ideal value of any individual risk factor to maintain healthy arterial aging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)219-229
Number of pages11
JournalJACC: Cardiovascular Imaging
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2021

Keywords

  • aging
  • atherosclerosis
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • coronary artery calcium
  • diabetes mellitus
  • healthy lifestyle
  • metabolic syndrome
  • multidetector computed tomography
  • prevention
  • risk
  • type 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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