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. 2022 May 18;22(1):227.
doi: 10.1186/s12872-022-02668-9.

Prevalence and risk factors for vascular calcification based on the ankle-brachial index in the general population: a cross-sectional study

Shengnan Chen  1   2 , Ning Li  3 , Yajuan Gao  2 , Hongli Jiang  4 , Yan Shen  5
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factors for vascular calcification based on the ankle-brachial index in the general population: a cross-sectional study

Shengnan Chen et al. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. .

Abstract

Background: To investigate the prevalence of vascular calcification based on the ankle-brachial index (ABI) value and analyse the risk factors for vascular calcification in the general population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect clinical, laboratory, and lifestyle data in individuals aged 30-70 recruited from the physical examination centre. The automatic arteriosclerosis detector was used to measure the ABI. Difference tests, correlation analyses, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for vascular calcification.

Results: The overall prevalence of vascular calcification was 24.39% in 1033 subjects. The prevalence of vascular calcification in males was much higher than that in females (27.80% vs. 17.49%, P < 0.001). The differences in age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, and fatty liver disease were statistically significant in males (P < 0.05). The differences between serum uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), alcohol consumption, exercise, and postmenopausal status were statistically significant in females (P < 0.05). Increased age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.028, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.008-1.049, P = 0.007), increased BMI (OR = 1.238, 95% CI 1.147-1.337, P < 0.001) and elevated DBP (OR = 2.563, 95% CI 1.262-5.205, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for vascular calcification in males after adjusting for confounding factors. Increased BMI (OR = 1.159, 95% CI 1.029-1.304, P = 0.015), elevated UA (OR = 1.545, 95% CI 1.077-2.216, P = 0.018), elevated LDL-C (OR = 1.044, 95% CI 1.060-1.027, P < 0.001), and a lack of exercise (OR = 2.402, 95% CI 1.073-5.373, P = 0.033) were independent risk factors for vascular calcification in females.

Conclusions: The prevalence of vascular calcification based on the ABI value is also high in the general population of our centre. Increased age, BMI, and elevated DBP are independent risk factors for vascular calcification in males. Increased BMI, UA, LDL-C, and a lack of exercise are independent risk factors for vascular calcification in females. Attention should be given to strengthening the prevention and control of vascular calcification in the general population.

Keywords: Ankle-brachial index; General population; Risk factors; Vascular calcification.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The prevalence of vascular calcification based on the ABI value in males and females
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Correlation coefficient matrix of variables in males
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Correlation coefficient matrix of variables in females
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Multivariate logistic regression analysis of vascular calcification in males
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Multivariate logistic regression analysis of vascular calcification in females
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