Carotid artery plaque thickness is associated with increased serum calcium levels: The Northern Manhattan study

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2007-10, Vol.194 (2), p.426-432
• Main Authors: Rubin, Mishaela R, Rundek, Tanja, McMahon, Donald J, Lee, Hye-Seung, Sacco, Ralph L, Silverberg, Shonni J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African Americans; Age Factors; Aged; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Calcium - blood; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Carotid Artery Diseases - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - ethnology; Carotid Artery Diseases - pathology; Carotid Artery, External - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, External - pathology; Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Internal - pathology; Carotid plaque thickness; Carotid Stenosis - complications; Carotid Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Cohort Studies; Coronary heart disease; Epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Heart; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; New York City; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Serum calcium; Ultrasonography; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.08.027

Abstract Background Elevated serum calcium concentrations are associated with vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether there is a relationship between high-normal serum calcium levels and sub-clinical vascular effects. We investigated the association between serum calcium and carotid plaque thickness, a powerful early predictor of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular events. Methods Epidemiological study of 1194 subjects from the Northern Manhattan Study cohort, a prospective community-based study designed to investigate risk factors for vascular disease in different race-ethnic groups. Results Subjects with carotid plaque had higher corrected serum calcium levels within the normal range than those without carotid plaque (2.21 ± 0.09 mmol/L versus 2.19 ± 0.09 mmol/L, p < 0.002). The relationship between carotid plaque and serum calcium persisted after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects in the top quintile of maximal carotid plaque thickness (≥1.7 mm) were more likely to be in the highest quintile of serum calcium level (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.17–2.29, p < 0.004). The interaction of age and corrected serum calcium was the most significant predictor of carotid plaque thickness when traditional vascular risk factors were considered ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Serum calcium levels in a multi-ethnic population of older men and women were positively associated with carotid plaque thickness, a powerful early predictor of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular events.