BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of atherosclerosis, which often develops as vascular calcification on radiologic examinations. This study evaluated the relationship between smoking-related factors and incidental abdominal aorta calcification (AAC) detected by computed tomography (CT) among middle-aged and elderly men. METHODS: We assessed the abdominal CT findings of 218 men aged 40 to 81 years who underwent health checkups. The associations between smoking factors and AAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to adjust for confounding variables such as age, lifestyle factors, and chronic diseases. RESULTS: Adjusting for confounding variables, the risk of AAC was significantly increased in association with smoking for at least 20 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–14.93), smoking 10+ pack-years (10–20 pack-years: AOR, 4.54; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; >20 pack-years: AOR, 5.28; 95% CI, 2.10–13.31), and a history of smoking (former smoker: AOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.07–5.68; current smoker: AOR, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.08–12.26). In terms of the daily smoking amount, even a low smoking level increased the risk of AAC. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that smoking for 20+ years, smoking 10+ pack-years, and even a low level of smoking daily increases the likelihood of developing AAC. Clinicians should recommend that patients quit smoking and stress the importance of smoking duration when promoting health in middle-aged and elderly patients.
Aged ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Atherosclerosis ; Chronic Disease ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Calcification

BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerotic disease and an independent predictor of subsequent vascular morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to investigate the association of AAC with lifestyle and risk factors of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The results of the abdominal computed tomography of 380 patients who visited Chungnam National University Hospital for a health checkup from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were reviewed. A six-point scale was used in grading the overall severity of the calcification in three areas of the abdominal aorta, including the area superior to the renal artery, the upper-half area inferior to the renal artery, and the lower-half area inferior to the renal artery, in addition to the common iliac artery. The association of the AAC severity with the age, lifestyle factors, and risk factors of cardiovascular disease was analyzed via multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In the male subjects, the age, presence of dyslipidemia and smoking were positively related to AAC, but exercising was negatively related to AAC (total R2 = 0.563). In the female subjects, the age and presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were positively related to AAC, but exercising was negatively related to AAC (total R2 = 0.547). CONCLUSION: AAC was related to both the male and female subjects' age, presence of dyslipidemia, and exercising, to smoking in the male subjects and to the presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension in the female subjects.
Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iliac Artery ; Life Style ; Linear Models ; Male ; Renal Artery ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: Placental abruption is one of the obstetric hemorrhage diseases that needs emergent treatment. But there is no predictable tool for placental abruption at present, we clinically analyzed its incidence, etiological factors, signs and symptom and neonatal outcome for reducing complications of this disease. METHODS: The data presented here were based on 80 cases of placental abruption among 20,483 deliveries during 13 years of period from January, 1991 to December, 2003. RESULTS: The incidence of placental abruption was 0.4%. Most of cases (97.5%) occurred over 28 weeks of gestational age. The incidence of unknown etiological factor was 67.5% and pregnancy-induced hypertension was related in 22.5% of cases. The most common signs and symptom was vaginal bleeding (46.3%). Lower abdominal pain (33.8%), fetal distress (10%), premature labor (5%) were also noted. The half of the patients was diagnosed before delivery and the mode of delivery was cesarean section in 93.8%. The survival rate of newborns in severe degree group (14.3%) of placental abruption was lower than that of mild degree group (94.1%) or moderate degree group (84.6%). Additionally, Apgar scores at 1min and 5min of newborns in severe degree group (1.3+/-2.4/1.3+/-3.0) were significantly lower than that of mild degree group (5.9+/-2.5/7.5+/-2.2) or moderate degree group (5.5+/-2.7/7+/-2.8) (p<0.01). There was no maternal death in our study. CONCLUSION: Because the etiological factor of this disease was uncertain in two thirds of cases, comprehension of etiological factor such as pregnancy-induced hypertension and signs and symptom is emphasized. Bleeding and uteroplacental insufficiency caused by placental abruption affect fetal jeopardy in severe cases. Accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment including management of premature baby should be conducted in suspicious case of placental abruption for prevention of progression of this disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Abruptio Placentae* ; Cesarean Section ; Comprehension ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Death ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Hemorrhage