Table 3. Association of sex-specific quartiles of coronary artery calcium with MRI detected brain characteristics and pathology: the AGES-Reykjavik Study.
| Coronary Artery Calcium Sex-specific Quartiles | p* | p linear tend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brain characteristics | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | ||
| Odds Ratios (95% Confidence Intervals) | ||||||
| Cerebral infarcts | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 1 (ref) | 1.09 (0.89; 1.07) | 1.21 (0.99; 1.47) | 1.83 (1.51; 2.22) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Adjusted model | 1 (ref) | 0.99 (0.80; 1.21) | 1.00 (0.82; 1.23) | 1.36 (1.10; 1.23) | 0.002 | 0.004 |
| Cerebral microbleeds | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 1 (ref) | 1.28 (0.81; 2.02) | 1.00 (0.62; 1.62) | 1.94 (1.23; 2.98) | 0.0002 | 0.004 |
| Adjusted model | 1 (ref) | 1.25 (0.79; 1.98) | 0.97 (0.59; 1.58) | 1.80 (1.14; 2.86) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Adjusted means (95% Confidence Limits) | ||||||
| White matter volume† | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 25.9 (25.8; 26.0) | 25.8 (25.7; 25.9) | 25.7 (25.5; 25.8) | 25.4 (25.3; 25.5) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Adjusted model | 26.0 (25.8; 26.1) | 25.9 (25.8; 26.0) | 25.8 (25.6; 25.9) | 25.6 (25.4; 25.7) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Gray Matter volume† | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 46.1 (45.9; 46.2) | 45.4 (45.2; 45.6) | 45.0 (44.8; 45.2) | 44.2 (44.0; 44.4) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Adjusted model | 45.4 (42.2; 45.6) | 45.2 (45.0; 45.4) | 45.2 (45.0; 45.4) | 44.7 (44.4; 44.9) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Total brain tissue volume† | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 72.7 (72.5; 72.9) | 72.4 (72.2; 72.6) | 72.1 (71.9; 72.3) | 71.5 (71.3; 71.7) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Adjusted model | 72.4 (72.1; 72.7) | 72.3 (72.0; 72.5) | 72.1 (71.8; 72.3) | 71.7 (71.4; 71.9) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| WML volume† | ||||||
| Adjusted for age | 1.03 (0.96; 1.11) | 1.24 (1.17; 1.32) | 1.32 (1.24; 1.40) | 1.68 (1.60; 1.76) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
| Adjusted model | 1.05 (0.95; 1.14) | 1.17 (1.07; 1.26) | 1.15 (1.06; 1.24) | 1.45 (1.35; 1.55) | <.0001 | <.0001 |
*
Overall difference between the four quartiles;
†
Relative to intracranial volume;
WML: white matter lesion;
Adjusted model: adjusted for age, education level, ever smoker, prevalent coronary heart disease, current hypertension and diabetes, mid-life systolic pressure and total cholesterol.