Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors and carotis intima media thicknesses in patients with single valve and double valve calcifications

8. SUMMARYComparision of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Carotis Intima MediaThicknesses in Patients with Single Valve and Double Valve CalcificationsIntroduction and Aim: Although previous studies have shown a significantassosication between coronary risk factors and valvular calcifications, the relationbetween the extent of valvular calcifications and coronary risk factors, angiographicallydocumented coronary artery disease and ultrasonographically documented carotisintima media thickness has not been shown clearly. Accordingly, in this study, weaimed to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors and carotis intima media thicknessesin patients with single and double valve calcifications.Materials and Methods: 100 patients having double valve calcifications (aorticvalve calcification and mitral annular calcification; 47 female and 53 male; mean age68.1±8.7 years) and 90 patients having single valve calcification (aortic valvecalcification; 29 female and 61 male; mean age 62.8±9.8 years) were enrolled into thestudy. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography, carotis ultrasonographyand coronary angiography. Clinical and demographic characteristics of the patientswere recorded.Results: Age, female gender and hypertension were found to be significantlyhigher in patients with double valve calcifications (p=0.000, 0.038 and 0.027;respectively). In means of hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, body massindex, coronary artery disease and carotis intima media thickness, no significantdifference was observed between the both groups. Age and female gender were foundto be independent predictors in patients with double valve calcifications.Conclusion: Age and female gender have been shown to be independentpredictors of double valve calcifications. In addition, the extent of coronary arterydisease and carotis intima media thickness were detected to be similar in both groups.These data have suggested that aortic and mitral valve calcifications may have differentpathogenetic mechanisms and mitral annular calcification may also have someadditional pathogenetic factors.Keywords: Aortic valve calcification, mitral annular calcification, carotisintima media thickness, cardiovascular risk factors43