@article {682, title = {Racial differences in coronary artery calcification in older adults.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {22}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Mar 01}, pages = {424-30}, abstract = {

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.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Calcinosis, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Female, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/hq0302.105357}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Naydeck, Barbara L and Whittle, Jeff and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Edmundowicz, Daniel and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {704, title = {Relationship between coronary artery calcification and other measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease in older adults.}, journal = {Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol}, volume = {22}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Oct 01}, pages = {1674-9}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: In the Cardiovascular Health Study, subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CVD events in older adults. The extent to which this measure or its components reflect calcified coronary disease is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was assessed with electron beam tomography in 414 participants without clinical CVD and examined using cut points (CAC> or =400 and CAC> or =800) and the log(CAC); 274 had subclinical CVD by ankle-arm index, ECG, or carotid ultrasound. Cut points for subclinical disease as previously defined in the Cardiovascular Health Study were examined as well as continuous measures to produce receiver operating characteristic curve curves. A low ankle-arm index was highly specific for a high CAC score. The internal carotid artery intima-media thickness was most strongly correlated with CAC (r=0.30) and was significantly related to both CAC cut points and to the log(CAC) score independently of all other measures.

CONCLUSIONS: In these community-dwelling older adults without clinical CVD, internal carotid artery intima-media thickness was most closely related to CAC. However, 17.5\% of those with a CAC> or =400 would be missed in the ascertainment of subclinical atherosclerosis using the previously published composite of subclinical atherosclerosis. Prospective follow-up will determine whether the CAC score improves prediction of CVD events over other noninvasive measures.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Calcinosis, Cardiovascular Diseases, Carotid Stenosis, Cohort Studies, Coronary Artery Disease, Demography, Female, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Sex Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Tunica Intima, Tunica Media}, issn = {1524-4636}, doi = {10.1161/01.atv.0000033540.89672.24}, author = {Newman, Anne B and Naydeck, Barbara L and Sutton-Tyrrell, Kim and Edmundowicz, Daniel and O{\textquoteright}Leary, Daniel and Kronmal, Richard and Burke, Gregory L and Kuller, Lewis H} } @article {6998, title = {Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease and Death, Dementia, and Coronary Heart Disease in Patients 80+ Years.}, journal = {J Am Coll Cardiol}, volume = {67}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Mar 8}, pages = {1013-22}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The successful prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke has resulted in a substantial increase in longevity, with subsequent growth in the population of older people at risk for dementia.

OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluated the relationship of coronary and other peripheral atherosclerosis to risk of death, dementia, and CHD in the very elderly. Because the extent of vascular disease differs substantially between men and women, sex- and race-specific analyses were included, with a specific focus on women with low coronary artery calcium (CAC) Agatston scores.

METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CAC, carotid intimal medial thickness, stenosis, and ankle brachial index) and risk of dementia, CHD, and total mortality in 532 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study from 1998/1999 (mean age, 80 years) to 2012/2013 (mean age, 93 years).

RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of participants had CAC scores >400. Women and African-Americans had lower CAC scores. Few men had low CAC scores. CAC score and number of coronary calcifications were directly related to age-adjusted total mortality and CHD. The age-specific incidence of dementia was higher than for CHD. Only about 25\% of deaths were caused by CHD and 16\% by dementia. Approximately 64\% of those who died had a prior diagnosis of dementia. White women with low CAC scores had a significantly decreased incidence of dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: In subjects 80+ years of age, there is a greater incidence of dementia than of CHD. CAC, as a marker of atherosclerosis, is a determinant of mortality, and risk of CHD and myocardial infarction. White women with low CAC scores had a significantly decreased risk of dementia. A very important unanswered question, especially in the very elderly, is whether prevention of atherosclerosis and its complications is associated with less Alzheimer disease pathology and dementia. (Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS]; NCT00005133).

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, 80 and over, Cause of Death, Coronary Artery Disease, Dementia, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Pennsylvania, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Survival Rate}, issn = {1558-3597}, doi = {10.1016/j.jacc.2015.12.034}, author = {Kuller, Lewis H and Lopez, Oscar L and Mackey, Rachel H and Rosano, Caterina and Edmundowicz, Daniel and Becker, James T and Newman, Anne B} }