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Racial differences in coronary artery calcification in older adults.

TitleRacial differences in coronary artery calcification in older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsNewman, AB, Naydeck, BL, Whittle, J, Sutton-Tyrrell, K, Edmundowicz, D, Kuller, LH
JournalArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
Volume22
Issue3
Pagination424-30
Date Published2002 Mar 01
ISSN1524-4636
KeywordsAge Factors, Aged, Calcinosis, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Abstract<p>Reports on race-related differences in coronary artery calcium (CAC) are just beginning to emerge and have not been well studied in the elderly. This study was undertaken to assess whether such differences exist and the relationship between CAC and cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of elderly community-dwelling adults. CAC was measured by using electron-beam tomography in 614 adults (aged 67 to 99 years), of whom 59% were women and 23% were black. The median CAC score was lower in blacks than in whites for men (159 versus 787, respectively; P<0.001) and for women (134 versus 233, respectively; P=0.02) after adjustment for age, cardiovascular disease, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, although this difference was stronger and remained significant among men only. Lower CAC scores were also observed in the subgroup of blacks with a history of myocardial infarction. The lower CAC scores in blacks compared with whites observed in this study is consistent with either a lower prevalence of coronary artery disease or a lower extent of calcification of coronary artery disease.</p>
DOI10.1161/hq0302.105357
Alternate JournalArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
PubMed ID11884285
Grant ListN01 HC-85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL-64587 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States