Distribution of Coronary Artery Calcification in an Asymptomatic Korean Population: Association with Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Syndrome

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been used as surrogate marker for coronary atherosclerosis. We developed a set of age-and gender-stratified CAC distribution and risk factors for CAC in a population of asymptomatic Korean subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between 2003 and 2007, 3,961 asymptomatic subjects without a history of ischemic heart disease (male 64%, mean age 56+/-10 years) were screened for CAC by the use of multi-detector computed tomography. RESULTS: The total CAC score was assigned to a percentile according to age and gender. The prevalence of CAC and mean CAC score increased with age [p or =90 cm in males; > or =80 cm in females) was 1.445 (95% CI 1.222-1.709). CONCLUSION: This study reports the distribution of CAC score by age and gender. It will serve as a reference standard for the clinical interpretation of CAC results in the asymptomatic Korean population.