Cardiovascular risk factors and mitral annular calcification in type 2 diabetes

Conclusions: Age, female gender, Caucasian race, and diabetes duration were associated with the presence and extent of MAC in T2DM subjects, independent of CAC, which was also strongly associated with MAC. These data suggest that additional mechanisms for MAC formation in diabetics may exist which are distinct from those related to generalized atherosclerosis and deserve further investigation.Highlights: ► Mitral annular calcification (MAC) associates with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. ► We quantified MAC by CT in a large diabetic cohort without kidney or heart disease. ► MAC was not associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors or CRP. ► Female sex, Caucasian race, and diabetes duration were associated independent of CAC. ► Mechanisms of MAC formation may differ from those of generalized atherosclerosis.

Source: Atherosclerosis - January 14, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Atif N. Qasim, Hashmi Rafeek, Suraj P. Rasania, Timothy W. Churchill, Wei Yang, Victor A. Ferrari, Saurabh Jha, Stephen M. Master, Claire K. Mulvey, Karen Terembula, Chris Dailing, Matthew J. Budoff, Steven M. Kawut, Muredach P. Reilly Tags: Imaging & Measurement of Vessel Health Source Type: research