The correlation between coronary artery, aortic, and mitral valve calcification in patients with coronary atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background

Atherosclerosis is the underlying process causing coronary artery calcification. Pathophysiology of aortic and mitral valve calcification has several similarities with coronary atherosclerosis, but their correlation has not been clear, especially in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the correlation between the calcium score of the coronary arteries, aortic, and mitral valves in patients with coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional, correlation study. Stratified randomization was done based on the coronary artery calcium score category. The calcium score was calculated using Agatston technique. Statistical tests were done to look for the correlations between the coronary artery and aortic valve calcium score, coronary artery and mitral valve calcium score, as well as coronary artery and aortic + mitral valve calcium score.

Results

There are ninety-seven subjects (coronary calcium score “mild” 34 subjects, “moderate” 30 subjects, “severe” 33 subjects) with a mean age of 63.85 (± 9.80) years old. The median coronary artery calcium score was 158.7 (Agatston Unit (AU; 1–3917.7), aortic valve 12.6 AU (0–3747), and mitral valve 0.1 AU (0–1247.5 AU). There was a very weak correlation between coronary artery calcium score with aortic, mitral, and aortic + mitral valve calcium score.

Conclusions

There was no statistically significant correlation between the calcium score of the coronary artery and the calcium score of the aortic valve, as well as the calcium score of the mitral valve in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. However, the secondary analysis showed a correlation between them varied depending on the severity of coronary artery calcification, which could shed light on a better understanding of the atherosclerotic process in the coronary artery, aortic, and mitral valve.