The association between cardiac calcification and coronary artery disease

Objective - The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between mitral annular calcification (MAC), aortic valve annulus calcification (AVAC) and aortic valve calcification (AVC) with coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects <= 65 years. Methods - 386 patients under 65 years of age underwent transthoracic echocardiography and coronary arteriography at the same time. Results - The following results were obtained: (1) The patients with calcium deposits were older than the patients without calcium deposits (P < 0.01). Hypertension (P < 0.05) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with MAC. Hypertension (P < 0.01), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05) and a smoking history (P < 0.05) were significantly more prevalent in patients with AVC than in those without AVC. Hypertension was significantly more frequent in patients with AVAC (P < 0.05). (II) There was a positive correlation between age (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), diabetes (P < 0.05) and the number of sites with calcium deposits. (III) Coronary arteriography was more frequently positive in patients with calcium deposits than in those without (P < 0.01). (IV) Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified multiple calcium deposits (P < 0.01), age (P < 0.05), male gender (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001), and hypercholesterolaernia (P < 0.05) as significant predictors for a positive coronary arteriography. Multiple calcium deposits (P < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001) were also significant predictors in female patients. In patients aged < 55 years, multiple calcium deposits (P < 0.05), diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05), smoking history (P < 0.05) and male gender (P < 0.05) were statistically significant predictors of a positive coronary arteriography. Conclusion - There is a significant association between the presence of calcium deposits and coronary artery disease. The presence of multiple calcium deposits is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease.