This study evaluated the incidence and severity of the new onset of coronary artery calcification (CAC) related to clinical factors assessed at follow-up CAC scan among 6993 asymptomatic Korean adults (48.4 ± 7.2 years; 79.8% men) without underlying baseline CAC. During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, the risk of (a) the new onset of CAC (defined as coronary artery calcium score CACS > 0 at follow-up), (b) difference of ≥ 2.5 between baseline and follow-up square root (√) transformed CACS (Δ√transformed CACS), and (c) CACS > 100 at follow-up was evaluated. The incidence of the new onset of CAC, Δ√transformed CACS ≥ 2.5, and CACS > 100 was 19.3%, 13.0%, and 1.0%, respectively. After adjusting for traditional risk factors identified at initial CT scan and interscan period, the levels of systolic blood pressure, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and current smoking were positively associated with the risk of the new onset of CAC and Δ√transformed CACS ≥ 2.5, respectively. TyG index, HbA1C, and current smoking were associated with the risk of CACS > 100 (all P 100 among participants aged < 55 years. In conclusion, both TyG index and smoking were independently associated with the new onset of CAC and its severity, especially in adults aged < 55 years without baseline CAC.
Won et al. (Tue,) studied this question.