Association of cardiovascular and biochemical risk factors with tibial artery calcification

Abstract

The cardiovascular risk factors that contribute to coronary calcification have been extensively studied while those related to tibial artery calcium are less well defined. We sought to determine the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and tibial artery calcification in a cohort of patients with and without significant peripheral atherosclerosis. A total of 222 patients without end-stage renal disease were identified in a prospectively maintained database containing tibial artery calcification (TAC) scores, and demographic, cardiovascular, and biochemical risk factor information. Patients with prevalent tibial artery calcification were more likely to be older, male, and have a history positive for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and tobacco use. Patients with an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) or symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD) were also more likely to have higher calcium values. In analyses using multivariable logistic regression, age, gender, diabetes, and tobacco use maintained their association with prevalent tibial calcification while hypertension, hyperlipidemia and body mass index did not. These associations remained when PAD was added to the model. After adjusting for relevant cardiovascular risk factors, we found that only abnormal ABI, current PAD symptoms, and lower serum calcium values were associated with the presence of tibial artery calcification. In conclusion, in patients without end-stage renal disease, tibial artery calcification has risk factors that are similar but not identical to those for coronary artery calcification and peripheral atherosclerosis.

Prevalence of Calcification in Human Femoropopliteal Arteries and its Association with Demographics, Risk Factors, and Arterial Stiffness

“…Similar to our results, other studies reported correlations between risk factors and calcification, particularly between diabetes and chronic kidney disease 14–16 . While latter was not known for our study population, association between diabetes and calcification burden was strongest among all risk factors.…”

“…Calcification of the FPA is a relatively common condition 13 that is known to increase the risk of reconstruction failure, amputation, and mortality in patients with PAD 2 . While correlations between vascular calcification and age, chronic kidney disease, and type II diabetes mellitus were previously reported 14–16 , the underlying mechanisms and prevalence of FPA calcification in general population are not clear due to lack of data from younger and healthier arteries and inability to longitudinally study this process in humans. Lack of consensus on the definition of calcification and classification of its burden 11 further complicates research in this relatively unexplored area.…”

Isolation and screening of rareActinobacteria, a new insight for finding natural products with antivascular calcification activity

“…Several reports have shown that vascular calcification is a common and clinically significant feature of advanced atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease, and it is highly correlated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Deas et al 2015). Establishing screening programs for the detection of compounds that are active against this pathological process are therefore crucial.…”

Nitinol Stents in the Femoropopliteal Artery: A Mechanical Perspective on Material, Design, and Performance

“…57,58 Calcification in the lower extremity, particularly in the setting of diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease, 50,51,57,108 doubles cardiovascular mortality and quadruples the risk of amputation, 50,69 but the etiology of FPA calcification remains unclear and is an area of active research. 27,28,50,54,101,103 …”