Sweeney T, Ogunmoroti O, Ndumele CE, Zhao D, Varma B, Allison MA, Budoff MJ, Fashanu OE, Sharma A, Bertoni AG, Michos ED. Associations of adipokine levels with the prevalence and extent of valvular and thoracic aortic calcification: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).
Atherosclerosis 2021;
338:15-22. [PMID:
34785427 PMCID:
PMC8665862 DOI:
10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.11.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Extra-coronary calcification (ECC) is a marker of atherosclerosis and independently associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adipokines may mediate the effect of obesity on atherosclerosis. However, the relationship of adipokines with ECC is not well-established. We examined the associations of leptin, resistin and adiponectin with ECC in a diverse community-based cohort.
METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 1897 adults without clinical CVD in the MESA cohort. Serum adipokine levels and non-contrast cardiac CT scans were obtained at Exam 2 or 3 (randomly assigned). ECC was quantified by Agatston score and included calcification of the mitral annulus (MAC), aortic valve (AVC), ascending thoracic aorta (ATAC) and descending thoracic aorta (DTAC). We used multivariable regression to evaluate the associations between leptin, resistin and adiponectin [per 1 SD ln(adipokine] with ECC prevalence (score >0) and extent [ln(score+1)].
RESULTS
The mean age of participants was 65 ± 10 years; 49% women. After adjusting for demographic factors, adiponectin was inversely associated with AVC prevalence and extent; leptin positively associated with MAC prevalence and extent; and resistin positively associated with ATAC prevalence and extent and DTAC extent. After adjustment for BMI and other CVD risk factors, adiponectin remained inversely associated with AVC prevalence, and resistin remained associated with greater ATAC prevalence and extent. Leptin was not associated with measures of ECC after full adjustment. No adipokine was associated with MAC after full adjustment.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified significant associations between select adipokines and specific markers of ECC. Adipokines may play a role in the development of systemic atherosclerosis.
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