Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of the 152 patients involved in the study to investigate the correlation between plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 levels and the incidence and severity of calcific aortic valve disease. Patients were graded according to results from a dual source computed tomography (DSCT) scan.
| Clinical characteristic | Grade of aortic valve calcification |
Statistical significancea | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 (controls) n = 40 | Grade 2 n = 32 | Grade 3 n = 48 | Grade 4 n = 32 | ||
| Age, years | 67.8 ± 4.9 | 70.4 ± 5.0 | 70.0 ± 6.3 | 72.2 ± 4.7 | P < 0.05 |
| Male | 18 (45.0) | 21 (65.6) | 31 (64.6) | 16 (50.0) | NS |
| Smoker | 17 (42.5) | 14 (43.8) | 18 (37.5) | 15 (46.9) | NS |
| Hypertension | 15 (37.5) | 14 (43.8) | 25 (52.1) | 20 (62.5) | NS |
| Diabetes mellitus | 9 (22.5) | 8 (25.0) | 11 (22.9) | 15 (46.9) | NS |
| Medication use | |||||
| ACEI/ARB | 8 (20.0) | 14 (43.8) | 15 (31.3) | 12 (37.5) | NS |
| β blocker | 5 (12.5) | 9 (28.1) | 7 (14.6) | 5 (15.6) | NS |
| CCB | 6 (15.0) | 9 (28.1) | 10 (20.8) | 5 (15.6) | NS |
| Diuretic | 5 (12.5) | 5 (15.6) | 6 (12.5) | 7 (21.9) | NS |
| Aspirin | 10 (25.0) | 10 (31.3) | 13 (27.1) | 7 (21.9) | NS |
| Echocardiography parameters | |||||
| LVDD, mm | 50.7 ± 3.0 | 51.0 ± 2.2 | 51.6 ± 2.4 | 51.9 ± 3.1 | NS |
| LVEF, % | 61.2 ± 5.1 | 61.0 ± 4.2 | 60.3 ± 4.7 | 58.3 ± 6.3 | NS |
| DSCT parameters | |||||
| AVC score | 0 | 42.6–63.4 | 140.6–182.2 | 324.7–572.0 | P < 0.01 |
Values are shown as mean ± SD, n (%) or interquartile range.
Analysis of variance using the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used for continuous variables and the χ2 test was used in the comparison of categorical variables.
Grade 1, no calcification (controls); grade 2, mildly calcified; grade 3, moderately calcified; grade 4, heavily calcified.
ACEI/ARB, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB, calcium channel blockers; LVDD, left ventricular diastolic diameter; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; AVC, aortic valve calcification; NS, no significant between-group difference (P ≥ 0.05).