Table 1.
Summary of baseline characteristics
| Variable | Total | Calcification | P-value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Mild to moderate | Severe | Very severe | |||
| N | 33 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 10 | |
| Calcification score (AU) | 379 [22.8–1028] | 0 [0–0] | 163 [74.0–309] | 540 [505–625] | 2021 [1184–2940] | <0.01 |
| Estimated GFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) | 28 [23.7–35.9] | 30 [22.1–35.8] | 28 [27.0–42.0] | 31 [24.9–32.3] | 28 [17.5–42.3] | NS |
| Age (years) | 65.6 [11.8] | 51.1 [9.8] | 67.4 [6.6] | 68.2 [9.9] | 73.9 [7.7] | <0.01 |
| Female (%) | 21 | 25 | 44 | 0 | 10 | NS |
| Weight (kg) | 86.2 [18.8] | 87.9 [16.1] | 88.7 [26.2] | 87.3 [17.8] | 82.2 [16.6] | NS |
| Smoker/ex-smoker (%) | 47 | 25 | 33 | 50 | 60 | NS |
| Diabetes (%) | 48 | 13 | 56 | 67 | 60 | NS |
| Hypertension (%) | 73 | 50 | 67 | 83 | 90 | NS |
| CAD (%) | 30 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 70 | 0.02 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 137.6 [20] | 129.8 [14.1] | 138.8 [20.] | 147.0 [22.8] | 137.0 [22.4] | NS |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 74.7 [11] | 84.1 [8.7] | 72.8 [13.3] | 78.7 [6.2] | 66.4 [4.6] | 0.01 |
| Pulse pressure (mmHg) | 62.9 [18.4] | 45.6 [7.8] | 66.0 [11.6] | 68.2 [21.4] | 70.6 [20.5] | <0.01 |
| Haemoglobin (g/dL) | 12.7 [1.5] | 13.2 [1.6] | 12.8 [1.2] | 12.6 [1.7] | 12.3 [1.5] | NS |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 4.0 [0.3] | 4.0 [0.2] | 4.1 [0.3] | 4.0 [0.4] | 3.8 [0.3] | 0.08 |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | 9.3 [0.5] | 9.2 [0.3] | 9.5 [0.2] | 9.2 [0.6] | 9.1 [0.6] | NS |
| Phosphate (mg/dL) | 3.8 [1.2] | 3.5 [0.9] | 3.6 [1.5] | 4.3 [1.2] | 4.0 [0.9] | NS |
| Calcium × phosphate (mg2/dL2) | 35.0 [9.8] | 31.7 [7.5] | 34.0 [14.2] | 40.0 [9.2] | 35.8 [6.5] | NS |
| PTH (pmol/L) | 7.1 [5.3–14.0] | 6.5 [5.0–14.1] | 6.5 [5.8–11.2] | 7.0 [5.5–15.5] | 10.5 [3.8–14.0] | NS |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 178 [35] | 197 [27] | 193 [7] | 162 [27] | 155 [31] | 0.01 |
| HDL-C (mg/dL) | 50.3 [23.2] | 50.3 [15.5] | 58.0 [27.1] | 46.4 [11.6] | 42.5 [11.6] | NS |
| LDL-C (mg/dL) | 93 [23] | 101 [19] | 101 [19] | 81 [12] | 85 [27] | NS |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 151 [115–239] | 168 [133–416] | 142 [106–168] | 124 [62–239] | 204 [115–221] | NS |
| CaCO3 (%) | 79 | 88 | 78 | 67 | 80 | NS |
| Vitamin D (%) | 15 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 20 | NS |
| ACE/ARB (%) | 76 | 88 | 67 | 100 | 60 | NS |
| Beta blocker (%) | 52 | 25 | 56 | 33 | 80 | NS |
| Statin (%) | 63 | 63 | 56 | 50 | 70 | NS |
| ASA (%) | 50 | 0 | 89 | 33 | 60 | <0.01 |
Values expressed are mean [SD], except median [IQR] for estimated GFR, PTH and triglycerides. Estimated GFR was calculated from the MDRD study equation. CAD, coronary artery disease; PTH, parathyroid hormone; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. To convert haemoglobin in g/dL to g/L, multiply by 10; albumin in g/dL to g/L, multiply by 10; GFR in ml/min/1.73 m2 to ml/s/1.73 m2, multiply by 0.0167; calcium in mg/dL to mmol/L, multiply by 0.2495; phosphate mg/dL to mmol/L, multiply by 0.3229; PTH in pg/mL to ng/mL, multiply by 1; total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C in mg/dL to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0259; triglycerides in mg/dL to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0113.