Changes in the structure and function of the heart due to atherosclerosis
Even in people without heart weakness, or a past heart attack seems to be a connection between atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and changes in the structure and function of the heart.
In the current investigation, the research group of Professor Dr. Vanessa Xanthakis of the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), it was found that even in people without heart failure and myocardial infarction is a connection between calcium deposits in the coronary arteries and changes in the structure and function of the heart seem to be. The results of the study were published in the English journal “PLOS ONE”.
Over 2,600 people were examined for the study
For the current study, it was investigated at 2,650 Participants with an average age of 51 years (48 percent of whom were women), the relationship between the calcification of the coronary arteries and echocardiographic measurements for quantification of these changes in the heart.
Progress of coronary artery progression disease without symptoms?
A deposition of calcium in the coronary arteries (also called atherosclerosis) is a strong predictor for future coronary heart disease. The previous findings suggest that the coronary artery disease with the early development of a heart muscle disease interacts and even progresses when no symptoms are present. There are data about the relationship between coronary calcium in the coronary arteries and echocardiography were missing so far, however, detectable changes in the structure and function of the heart.
Atherosclerosis promotes changes in the heart
The researchers found that higher values of calcification with higher values of the left-mass index and aortic root diameter, interventricular went hand-in-hand, what to do with unwanted impacts, such as changes in the size, shape, structure and function of the heart.
They protect themselves by a healthy lifestyle
“We know that coronary heart disease progresses the heart muscle disease, but these results suggest that there is a direct correlation between the calcium content of the coronary arteries, and structural and functional changes in the heart could give, which underlines the need to lead a healthy life style, in order to prevent calcification of the arteries,” says study author Professor Dr. Vanessa Xanthakis of the Boston University School of Medicine in a press release.
Further research is needed
The expert stressed that further studies were needed to clarify the pathophysiological basis of the observed associations and to assess whether calcium can be used from the coronary arteries for the prediction of changes in the structure and function of the heart. (as)
