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.