Objective: Based on coronary artery calciifcation (CAC) distribution in the rural population of Yunnan province, we further explored the relationship between coronary artery calciifcation score (CACS) and the pulse pressure difference (PPD).
Methods: A randomly stratiifed cluster sampling method was used to study the rural population of Yunnan province and 16-MDCT scan was performed in 212 subjects for evaluating their CAC and calculating CACS. The subjects were divided into 2 sets of groups according to the age and CACS value. Age (51-60) years group,n=108 and Age (61-71) years group,n=104; CACS<1 group,n=162, 1≤CACS<100 group,n=33 and CACS≥100 group,n=17. The PPD level and the relationship between CACS and PPD were compared among different groups.
Results: The average PPD level in Age (61-71) years group was (44.67±13.87) mmHg and in Age (61-71) years group was (50.00±17.44) mmHg,P=0.015, PPD was positively related to age, rs=0.202,P=0.003. The average PPD level in CACS≥100 group, CACS<1 group and 1≤CACS<100 group were (55.22±18.79) mmHg, (46.87±15.46) mmHg and (45.20±15.89) mmHg respectively,P<0.05. The patients with increased PPD level in CACS≥100 group was 47.1%, in CACS<1 group was 17.3% and in 1≤CACS<100 group was 15.2%,P<0.05. Spearman rank correlation analysis indicated that PPD level was positively related to CACS, rs=0.282,P=0.047, with adjusted confounding factors such as age and blood cholesterol level, the PPD was still positively related to CACS.
Conclusion: PPD as a risk factor of coronary artery disease is related to CACS in rural population of Yunnan province, the CACS increased accordingly with the elevated PPD level.

BACKGROUNDLittle is known about the influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on coronary artery calcification (CAC) in China. In this article, we aimed to explore the distribution of CAC in populations with and without MetS, and estimate the influence of MetS and its components on CAC in a community-based population of Beijing.

METHODSA total of 1647 local residents of Beijing, age 40-77 years, were recruited for a cardiovascular risk factors survey and were determined fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood lipids, and 64 multi-detector computed tomography (64-MDCT) coronary artery calcium score (CACS) measurement (Agatston scoring). The distribution of CAC was described, and the influence of MetS components on CAC was evaluated.

RESULTSIn this population, the prevalence and extent of CAC increased with increasing age and both were higher in MetS subjects compared to nonMetS subjects (all P < 0.05), with the exception of those older than 65 years old. The risk of CAC increased with increasing numbers of MetS components, and the odds ratios for predicting positive CAC in subjects with 1, 2, 3, and = 4 MetS components were 1.60, 1.84, 2.12, and 3.12, respectively (all P < 0.05). Elevated blood pressure, elevated FPG, elevated triglycerides, and overweight increased the risk of CAC, yielding odds ratios of 2.64, 1.67, 1.32, and 1.37, respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn the Beijing community-based population, MetS increases the risk of CAC. The risk of CAC increases with increasing numbers of MetS components. Not only the number, but also the variety of risk factors for MetS is correlated with the risk of CAC. Elevated blood pressure, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and overweight increase the risk of CAC.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors