Thoracoabdominal calcifications predict cardiovascular disease mortality in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic subjects: 18-year follow-up study

Diabetes Care. 2010 Mar;33(3):583-5. doi: 10.2337/dc09-1813. Epub 2009 Dec 15.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality associated with thoracoabdominal calcifications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thoracoabdominal calcifications of native radiograms were evaluated in 833 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 1,292 subjects without diabetes, aged 45-64 years, without prior evidence of CVD. The type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic study cohorts were followed up for 18 years. RESULTS After adjustment for conventional risk factors, marked thoracoabdominal calcifications predicted CVD/total mortality with hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) of 1.5 (0.8-3.0)/1.8 (1.1-2.9) in type 2 diabetic men, 3.0 (1.6-5.7)/3.1 (1.9-5.0) in type 2 diabetic women, 5.0 (2.2-12)/4.0 (2.2-7.4) in nondiabetic men, and 7.8 (1.8-34)/3.0 (1.3-7.0) in nondiabetic women and in the presence of C-reactive protein below/over 3 mg/l with HR of 2.4 (1.3-4.4)/3.0 (1.4-6.1) in type 2 diabetic subjects and 4.0 (1.5-10.8)/6.6 (2.7-16.0) in nondiabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS Thoracoabdominal calcifications in native radiograms are significant predictors of CVD and total mortality, especially in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic women with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level.

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Cavity / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Cavity / pathology
  • Calcinosis / complications*
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / epidemiology
  • Calcinosis / mortality
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnostic imaging
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / epidemiology
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Radiography, Thoracic / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Thoracic Diseases / complications*
  • Thoracic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Diseases / epidemiology
  • Thoracic Diseases / mortality
  • Time Factors