Abstract T P154: Association Between Intracranial Artery Calcification and Body Mass in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Arterial calcification is known to be related with atherosclerosis burden and future vascular event. Obesity has been suggested as a risk factor of coronary artery calcification. In this study we investigated association between intracranial arterial calcification and body mass among stroke population. Subject and Method: Between January 2008 and December 2013 acute cerebral infarction patients who were hospitalized in Chung-Ang University Hospital were eligible to be included. The patients with brain computed tomographic angiography were included, and intracranial arterial calcification was examined from cavernous portion of internal carotid artery. Underweight, normal, overweight and obesity groups were divided according to body mass index (BMI). Univariable and multivariable analysis was conducted to examine association between body mass and intracranial arterial calcification. Results: A total of 1231 patients was included (mean age, 67.4 years old; percentage of male gender, 57.8%; mean BMI, 23.7kg/m2), with 4.9% of underweight, 37.6% normal weight, 26.3% overweight and 31.2% obese patients. Advanced arterial calcification, defined as calcification involving at least 1 cm length or more of both intracranial internal carotid arteries was found in 281 patients (22.8%). The association between obesity and advanced arterial calcification was not significant [odds ratio (OR) 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-1.02, p=0.064]. However, the underweight group had significantly more advanced arterial calcification compared to normal group (OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.74 - 5.01, p<0.001). Multinomial logistic regression analysis including age, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and BMI proved that underweight is an independent risk factor of advanced arterial calcification (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.03-3.63, p=0.021). Conclusion: This study presents the association of weight and calcification of intracranial vessels in stroke population, and underweight defined as BMI less than 18.5kg/ m2 is related to advanced arterial calcification. Future studies are warranted to evaluate pathophysiological mechanism of intracranial arterial calcification and lean body mass.