Increased Aortic Calcification Is Associated With Arterial Stiffness Progression in Multiethnic Middle-Aged Men

Abstract

Arterial stiffness is established as an independent predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective was to prospectively evaluate association of aortic calcification burden with progression of arterial stiffness in population-based samples of healthy middle-aged men from ERA JUMP cohort. Men (n=635) aged 40–49 (207 White American, 45 African American, 142 Japanese American and 241 Japanese in Japan) were examined at baseline and 4–7 years later. Aortic calcification was evaluated from level of aortic arch to iliac bifurcation. Arterial stiffness progression was measured as annual change in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Multivariable-adjusted general linear models were applied to investigate associations of longitudinal change in aortic calcification with arterial stiffness progression in participants overall, as well as in subgroups without or with prevalent aortic calcification at baseline. Annual change in aortic calcification was positively and significantly associated with arterial stiffness progression. In participants with annual changes in aortic calcium score of <=0, 1–10, 11–100, and > 100, the adjusted mean (standard deviation) for the annual change in baPWV was 3.8 (2.2), 7.2 (2.2), 12.2 (1.8) and 15.6 (2.6) cm/sec, respectively (P for trend < 0.01) adjusted for baseline aortic calcification, arterial stiffness and standard cardiovascular risk factors. Arterial stiffness was associated with incidence of aortic calcification over the follow-up period among participants without aortic calcification (n=297) and with an increase in aortic calcification among participants with prevalent aortic calcification at baseline (n=388). Our findings suggest aortic calcification may be causally linked to arterial stiffness.

Variability in Predialysis Systolic Blood Pressure and Long-Term Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients

“…One possible explanation for this finding may be that calcium deposits in vascular structures cause vascular calcification, which was reported to share a significantly positive association with arterial stiffness in both a healthy population [29] and ESRD patients [30]. This finding deserves special consideration given the high incidence of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) and the widespread use of calcium-based binders in hemodialysis patients.…”

Noninvasive Blood Pressure Measurement in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: Comparison of Agreement between Oscillometric and Finger-Cuff Methods

“…Of note, several studies have recently reported that calcification of the aorta is associated positively with arterial stiffening both in hemodialysis patients [37,38] and in other cohorts [39][40][41][42][43] .…”

Blockade of angiotensin AT1 receptors prevents arterial remodelling and stiffening in iron‐overloaded rats

“…In this regard, some reports have indicated that increased iron in vitro enhances calcification of both endothelial (Nanami et al, ) and smooth muscle cells (Kawada et al, ) through inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, it has been proposed that aortic calcification may be causally linked to arterial stiffness and increased PWV in humans (Guo et al, ; Sekikawa et al, ; Tsao et al, ) and a rat model of vascular disease (Ng et al, ). However, our data indicate that this short‐term protocol of iron‐overload was unable to induce significant calcification of the rat aorta, and treatment with losartan did not modify this parameter.…”

“…In this regard, some reports have indicated that increased iron in vitro enhances calcification of both endothelial (Nanami et al, 2005) and smooth muscle cells (Kawada et al, 2018) through inflammation and oxidative stress. In addition, it has been proposed that aortic calcification may be causally linked to arterial stiffness and increased PWV in humans (Guo et al, 2017;Sekikawa et al, 2012;Tsao et al, 2014) and a rat model of vascular disease (Ng et al, 2011).…”