Predicting Long-Term Absence of Coronary Artery Calcium in Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of healthy arterial aging (long-term coronary artery calcification [CAC] of 0) among individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may improve primary prevention strategies. BACKGROUND Individuals with MetS or T2D have a heterogeneously increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and not alt have a high-intermediate risk. METHODS We included 574 participants from the MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) with MetS or T2D who had CAC=O at baseline and a repeat CAC scan 10 years later. Muttivariable logistic regression assessed the association of traditional and novel atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors and the MetS severity score (based on the 5 MetS criteria) with healthy arterial aging. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 58.9 years, 67% were women, 422 participants had MetS, and 152 had T2D. The proportion with tong-term CAC=O was similar for MetS (42%) and T2D (44%). A younger age was the only individual low/normal traditional risk factor associated with an increased likelihood of tong-term CAC 0 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22 to 1.85 per 10-years younger). The strongest associations of nontraditional risk factors were observed for an absence of thoracic calcification (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.24 to 4.72), absence of carotid plaque (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.61), and among persons with a high sensitivity troponin <3 ng/ml (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.38). In addition, persons with the lowest quartile MetS severity score had a substantially higher odds of healthy long-term CAC-O (OR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.27 to 5.76). CONCLUSIONS More than 40% of adults with MetS or T2D and baseline CAC=0 had long-term absence of CAC, which was most strongly associated with an absence of extracoronary atherosclerosis and a low MetS score. An optimal overall cardiovascular profile appears to be more important than an ideal value of any individual risk factor to maintain healthy arterial aging. (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify predictors of healthy arterial aging in individuals with MetS or T2D, and found that an optimal overall cardiovascular profile, including traditional and novel risk factors, and a low MetS severity score were more important in maintaining healthy arterial aging than the ideal value of any individual risk factor. More than 40% of adults with MetS or T2D and baseline CAC=0 had long-term absence of CAC, which was strongly associated with an absence of extracoronary atherosclerosis and a low MetS score.