Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) são a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo a doença arterial coronária (DAC) a mais comum das DCV, juntamente com acidente vascular cerebral. O cálcio das artérias coronárias é um marcador da DAC subclínica (assintomática) e é preditivo de eventos coronários futuros. Vários fatores de risco cardiovascular contribuem para o desenvolvimento da calcificação da artéria coronária (CAC). Adicionalmente, os fatores dietéticos podem influenciar no processo de aterosclerose e CAC. Objetivo: Avaliar a CAC e sua associação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e ingestão dietética em homens assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade. Métodos: Estudo transversal. A amostra consistiu de 150 homens assintomáticos com idades entre 50 e 70 anos (idade média 58,2 ± 5,3 anos), que foram submetidos à tomografia computadorizada multidetectores (TCMD). A aterosclerose subclínica foi avaliada pela CAC de acordo com o método de Agatston, sendo os escores de cálcio classificados como ≤10 (sem evidência e CAC mínima) e >10 (CAC moderada e aumentada). A ingestão dietética foi avaliada através do Registro de Consumo Alimentar (RCA). O modelo multivariado de Regressão de Modified Poisson foi utilizado para avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada, sendo estimados os efeitos do consumo de diversos nutrientes na prevalência de CAC moderada/aumentada ajustado para ingestão calórica e fatores de risco para CAC, através da razão de prevalências e intervalo de 95% de confiança. Resultados: A presença de CAC (escore de cálcio >0) foi identificada em 59,3% dos participantes. Na análise multivariada, os fatores independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada foram a história familiar (HF) de DAC prematura (RP=1,39; IC95% 1,03-1,88, p=0,029) e a atividade física (AF) <150 minutos/semana (RP=1,40; IC95% 1,01-1,93; p=0,045). O consumo de alguns nutrientes, também, mostrou-se associado à CAC moderada/aumentada, como o menor consumo de carboidratos (p=0,021) e o maior consumo de lipídeos (p=0,006), após o ajuste do modelo para a quantidade de calorias. Com a inclusão no modelo dos fatores de risco cardiovascular e escolaridade, os nutrientes associados à prevalência da CAC moderada/aumentada foram: carboidratos percentual (RP=0,98; IC95% 0,96-0,99; p=0,040), lipídeos percentual (RP=1,04; IC95% 1,01-1,07; p=0,005) e ácidos graxos saturados (AGS) percentual (RP=1,08; IC95% 1,02-1,14; p=0,013). Conclusões: Nesta amostra de adultos e idosos assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade, fatores de risco cardiovascular como HF de DAC prematura e baixa intensidade de AF estiveram associados, de forma independente, com a calcificação coronária moderada a aumentada. Analisando os fatores dietéticos, uma maior ingestão de lipídeos totais e de gorduras saturadas mostraram-se associadas com escores mais elevados de CAC, enquanto que a ingestão maior de carboidratos, em detrimento aos lipídeos, associou-se com escores mais baixos de CAC. Nossos resultados sugerem que esses fatores de risco devem ser mais considerados na avaliação clínica do risco cardiovascular global do paciente. / Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in the world, being the coronary artery disease (CAD) the most common CVD. The calcium of the coronary arteries is a marker for subclinical (asymptomatic) CAD, and is predictive of future coronary events. A number of cardiovascular risk factors account for coronary artery calcification (CAC). In addition, dietary factors may influence the process of atherosclerosis and CAC. Goal: To assess CAC and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and dietary intake in community-dwelling asymptomatic men. Method: Cross-sectional study. The sample included 150 asymptomatic men with age ranging between 50 and 70 years (mean age 58.2 ± 5.3 years) submitted to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Subclinical atherosclerosis was measured by CAC in accordance with the Agatston method, with the scores classified as ≤10 (no evidence of, or mild CAC) and >10 (moderate and severe CAC). Dietary intake was assessed according to the Food consumption Register (RCA) method. The multivariate Modified Poisson regression model was used to assess cardiovascular risk associated with moderate/severe CAC and the effects of the intake of different nutrients were estimated for the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC, adjusted for calorie intake and CAC risk factors by means of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: CAC (calcium score >0) was present in 59.3% of the subjects. In the multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with moderate/severe CAC included family history (FH) of early CAD (PR=1.39; 95%CI 1.03-1.88, p=0.029) and physical activity (PA) <150 minutes/week (PR=1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.93; p=0.045). The intake of some nutrients was also associated with moderate/severe CAC, such as lower carbohydrate intake (p=0.021) and higher lipid intake (p=0.006), after model adjustment for the amount of calories. Once the cardiovascular risk factors and schooling were included in the model, the nutrients associated with the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC were: percentage of carbohydrates (PR=0.98; 95%CI 0.96-0.99; p=0.040), percentage of lipids (PR=1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.07; p=0.005), and percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (PR=1.08; 95%CI 1.02-1.14; p=0.013). Conclusions: In the sample of community-dwelling asymptomatic adults and older persons, cardiovascular risk factors such as FH of early CAD, and low-intensity PA were independently associated with moderate to severe coronary calcification. Analysis of dietary factors showed that higher intake of total lipids and saturated fats were associated with higher CAC scores, whereas higher intake of carbohydrates over lipids was associated with lower CAC scores. Our results indicate that these risk factors should be considered in the cardiovascular assessment of the patient.

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) são a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo a doença arterial coronária (DAC) a mais comum das DCV, juntamente com acidente vascular cerebral. O cálcio das artérias coronárias é um marcador da DAC subclínica (assintomática) e é preditivo de eventos coronários futuros. Vários fatores de risco cardiovascular contribuem para o desenvolvimento da calcificação da artéria coronária (CAC). Adicionalmente, os fatores dietéticos podem influenciar no processo de aterosclerose e CAC. Objetivo: Avaliar a CAC e sua associação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e ingestão dietética em homens assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade. Métodos: Estudo transversal. A amostra consistiu de 150 homens assintomáticos com idades entre 50 e 70 anos (idade média 58,2 ± 5,3 anos), que foram submetidos à tomografia computadorizada multidetectores (TCMD). A aterosclerose subclínica foi avaliada pela CAC de acordo com o método de Agatston, sendo os escores de cálcio classificados como ≤10 (sem evidência e CAC mínima) e >10 (CAC moderada e aumentada). A ingestão dietética foi avaliada através do Registro de Consumo Alimentar (RCA). O modelo multivariado de Regressão de Modified Poisson foi utilizado para avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada, sendo estimados os efeitos do consumo de diversos nutrientes na prevalência de CAC moderada/aumentada ajustado para ingestão calórica e fatores de risco para CAC, através da razão de prevalências e intervalo de 95% de confiança. Resultados: A presença de CAC (escore de cálcio >0) foi identificada em 59,3% dos participantes. Na análise multivariada, os fatores independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada foram a história familiar (HF) de DAC prematura (RP=1,39; IC95% 1,03-1,88, p=0,029) e a atividade física (AF) <150 minutos/semana (RP=1,40; IC95% 1,01-1,93; p=0,045). O consumo de alguns nutrientes, também, mostrou-se associado à CAC moderada/aumentada, como o menor consumo de carboidratos (p=0,021) e o maior consumo de lipídeos (p=0,006), após o ajuste do modelo para a quantidade de calorias. Com a inclusão no modelo dos fatores de risco cardiovascular e escolaridade, os nutrientes associados à prevalência da CAC moderada/aumentada foram: carboidratos percentual (RP=0,98; IC95% 0,96-0,99; p=0,040), lipídeos percentual (RP=1,04; IC95% 1,01-1,07; p=0,005) e ácidos graxos saturados (AGS) percentual (RP=1,08; IC95% 1,02-1,14; p=0,013). Conclusões: Nesta amostra de adultos e idosos assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade, fatores de risco cardiovascular como HF de DAC prematura e baixa intensidade de AF estiveram associados, de forma independente, com a calcificação coronária moderada a aumentada. Analisando os fatores dietéticos, uma maior ingestão de lipídeos totais e de gorduras saturadas mostraram-se associadas com escores mais elevados de CAC, enquanto que a ingestão maior de carboidratos, em detrimento aos lipídeos, associou-se com escores mais baixos de CAC. Nossos resultados sugerem que esses fatores de risco devem ser mais considerados na avaliação clínica do risco cardiovascular global do paciente. / Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in the world, being the coronary artery disease (CAD) the most common CVD. The calcium of the coronary arteries is a marker for subclinical (asymptomatic) CAD, and is predictive of future coronary events. A number of cardiovascular risk factors account for coronary artery calcification (CAC). In addition, dietary factors may influence the process of atherosclerosis and CAC. Goal: To assess CAC and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and dietary intake in community-dwelling asymptomatic men. Method: Cross-sectional study. The sample included 150 asymptomatic men with age ranging between 50 and 70 years (mean age 58.2 ± 5.3 years) submitted to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Subclinical atherosclerosis was measured by CAC in accordance with the Agatston method, with the scores classified as ≤10 (no evidence of, or mild CAC) and >10 (moderate and severe CAC). Dietary intake was assessed according to the Food consumption Register (RCA) method. The multivariate Modified Poisson regression model was used to assess cardiovascular risk associated with moderate/severe CAC and the effects of the intake of different nutrients were estimated for the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC, adjusted for calorie intake and CAC risk factors by means of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: CAC (calcium score >0) was present in 59.3% of the subjects. In the multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with moderate/severe CAC included family history (FH) of early CAD (PR=1.39; 95%CI 1.03-1.88, p=0.029) and physical activity (PA) <150 minutes/week (PR=1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.93; p=0.045). The intake of some nutrients was also associated with moderate/severe CAC, such as lower carbohydrate intake (p=0.021) and higher lipid intake (p=0.006), after model adjustment for the amount of calories. Once the cardiovascular risk factors and schooling were included in the model, the nutrients associated with the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC were: percentage of carbohydrates (PR=0.98; 95%CI 0.96-0.99; p=0.040), percentage of lipids (PR=1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.07; p=0.005), and percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (PR=1.08; 95%CI 1.02-1.14; p=0.013). Conclusions: In the sample of community-dwelling asymptomatic adults and older persons, cardiovascular risk factors such as FH of early CAD, and low-intensity PA were independently associated with moderate to severe coronary calcification. Analysis of dietary factors showed that higher intake of total lipids and saturated fats were associated with higher CAC scores, whereas higher intake of carbohydrates over lipids was associated with lower CAC scores. Our results indicate that these risk factors should be considered in the cardiovascular assessment of the patient.

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) são a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo a doença arterial coronária (DAC) a mais comum das DCV, juntamente com acidente vascular cerebral. O cálcio das artérias coronárias é um marcador da DAC subclínica (assintomática) e é preditivo de eventos coronários futuros. Vários fatores de risco cardiovascular contribuem para o desenvolvimento da calcificação da artéria coronária (CAC). Adicionalmente, os fatores dietéticos podem influenciar no processo de aterosclerose e CAC. Objetivo: Avaliar a CAC e sua associação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e ingestão dietética em homens assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade. Métodos: Estudo transversal. A amostra consistiu de 150 homens assintomáticos com idades entre 50 e 70 anos (idade média 58,2 ± 5,3 anos), que foram submetidos à tomografia computadorizada multidetectores (TCMD). A aterosclerose subclínica foi avaliada pela CAC de acordo com o método de Agatston, sendo os escores de cálcio classificados como ≤10 (sem evidência e CAC mínima) e >10 (CAC moderada e aumentada). A ingestão dietética foi avaliada através do Registro de Consumo Alimentar (RCA). O modelo multivariado de Regressão de Modified Poisson foi utilizado para avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada, sendo estimados os efeitos do consumo de diversos nutrientes na prevalência de CAC moderada/aumentada ajustado para ingestão calórica e fatores de risco para CAC, através da razão de prevalências e intervalo de 95% de confiança. Resultados: A presença de CAC (escore de cálcio >0) foi identificada em 59,3% dos participantes. Na análise multivariada, os fatores independentemente associados com a CAC moderada/aumentada foram a história familiar (HF) de DAC prematura (RP=1,39; IC95% 1,03-1,88, p=0,029) e a atividade física (AF) <150 minutos/semana (RP=1,40; IC95% 1,01-1,93; p=0,045). O consumo de alguns nutrientes, também, mostrou-se associado à CAC moderada/aumentada, como o menor consumo de carboidratos (p=0,021) e o maior consumo de lipídeos (p=0,006), após o ajuste do modelo para a quantidade de calorias. Com a inclusão no modelo dos fatores de risco cardiovascular e escolaridade, os nutrientes associados à prevalência da CAC moderada/aumentada foram: carboidratos percentual (RP=0,98; IC95% 0,96-0,99; p=0,040), lipídeos percentual (RP=1,04; IC95% 1,01-1,07; p=0,005) e ácidos graxos saturados (AGS) percentual (RP=1,08; IC95% 1,02-1,14; p=0,013). Conclusões: Nesta amostra de adultos e idosos assintomáticos vivendo em comunidade, fatores de risco cardiovascular como HF de DAC prematura e baixa intensidade de AF estiveram associados, de forma independente, com a calcificação coronária moderada a aumentada. Analisando os fatores dietéticos, uma maior ingestão de lipídeos totais e de gorduras saturadas mostraram-se associadas com escores mais elevados de CAC, enquanto que a ingestão maior de carboidratos, em detrimento aos lipídeos, associou-se com escores mais baixos de CAC. Nossos resultados sugerem que esses fatores de risco devem ser mais considerados na avaliação clínica do risco cardiovascular global do paciente. / Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death in the world, being the coronary artery disease (CAD) the most common CVD. The calcium of the coronary arteries is a marker for subclinical (asymptomatic) CAD, and is predictive of future coronary events. A number of cardiovascular risk factors account for coronary artery calcification (CAC). In addition, dietary factors may influence the process of atherosclerosis and CAC. Goal: To assess CAC and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and dietary intake in community-dwelling asymptomatic men. Method: Cross-sectional study. The sample included 150 asymptomatic men with age ranging between 50 and 70 years (mean age 58.2 ± 5.3 years) submitted to multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Subclinical atherosclerosis was measured by CAC in accordance with the Agatston method, with the scores classified as ≤10 (no evidence of, or mild CAC) and >10 (moderate and severe CAC). Dietary intake was assessed according to the Food consumption Register (RCA) method. The multivariate Modified Poisson regression model was used to assess cardiovascular risk associated with moderate/severe CAC and the effects of the intake of different nutrients were estimated for the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC, adjusted for calorie intake and CAC risk factors by means of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: CAC (calcium score >0) was present in 59.3% of the subjects. In the multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with moderate/severe CAC included family history (FH) of early CAD (PR=1.39; 95%CI 1.03-1.88, p=0.029) and physical activity (PA) <150 minutes/week (PR=1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.93; p=0.045). The intake of some nutrients was also associated with moderate/severe CAC, such as lower carbohydrate intake (p=0.021) and higher lipid intake (p=0.006), after model adjustment for the amount of calories. Once the cardiovascular risk factors and schooling were included in the model, the nutrients associated with the prevalence of moderate/severe CAC were: percentage of carbohydrates (PR=0.98; 95%CI 0.96-0.99; p=0.040), percentage of lipids (PR=1.04; 95%CI 1.01-1.07; p=0.005), and percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (PR=1.08; 95%CI 1.02-1.14; p=0.013). Conclusions: In the sample of community-dwelling asymptomatic adults and older persons, cardiovascular risk factors such as FH of early CAD, and low-intensity PA were independently associated with moderate to severe coronary calcification. Analysis of dietary factors showed that higher intake of total lipids and saturated fats were associated with higher CAC scores, whereas higher intake of carbohydrates over lipids was associated with lower CAC scores. Our results indicate that these risk factors should be considered in the cardiovascular assessment of the patient.

Les nouvelles technologies d'imagerie basées sur la tomodensitométrie en coupe permettent l'évaluation de très haute qualité de la structure 3D de l'aorte thoracique. La reconstruction virtuelle et les modèles géométriques de l'aorte sont indispensables à l'exploitation des images dont le temps de traitement manuel reste cependant considérable et les outils numériques insuffisants ou inadaptés pour mesurer correctement sa morphologie. L'aorte n'est pas un simple tube de conduction du sang mais un organe de régulation de la pulsatilité des ondes de pression provoquées par l'éjection cardiaque. Ses désordres biomécaniques peuvent accélérer la formation de calcifications dans sa paroi et entrainer des risques de graves complications, comme les anévrismes et les dissections. La réparation aortique basée sur l'implantation d'endoprothèses est en pleine évolution et requiert des renseignements morphologiques précis pour en améliorer le taux de succès. Notre objectif a été d'étudier la géométrie tridimensionnelle de l'aorte en développant des algorithmes appropriés. Une plateforme informatique a été conçue et testée pour étudier trois pathologies de l'aorte: l'athérosclérose calcifiée, l'anévrisme et la dissection. L'hypothèse du travail a été que la géométrie spécifique des artères de chaque individu joue un rôle complémentaire à celui des facteurs de risque traditionnels dans le développement de ces pathologies. Notre premier travail a montré que trois facteurs résument 80% de la variabilité géométrique de l'aorte thoracique: le volume aortique, le déroulement et la symétrie de l'arche aortique, avec des taux de variabilité respectifs de 46%, 22% et 12%. Dans deux travaux suivants, nous avons montré que les calcifications de l'aorte thoracique se concentrent principalement dans la crosse et dans le segment descendant proximal, et que cette distribution était associée à la morphologie de l'aorte indépendamment de l'âge, du sexe, de la surface corporelle et des facteurs de risque traditionnels. Le quatrième travail a montré que le score de dépôt calcique dans toute l'aorte thoracique incluant la crosse était plus étroitement associé aux complications non-cardiaques, vasculaires périphériques et cérébrales, que le score traditionnel de calcium coronaire. Il faut noter que la crosse aortique n'est pas visualisée dans les études de routine de calcium coronaire sans injection. Le cinquième travail décrit un modèle déformable capable de segmenter la lumière aortique dans un contexte pathologique. Il a été appliqué pour étudier de façon automatisée la taille d'un anévrisme abdominal avant et après la pose d'une endoprothèse. Dans le dernier travail, la méthode précédente a été adaptée pour étudier la géométrie aortique des patients atteints de dissection comparativement à un groupe témoin de patients qui en étaient indemnes. Trois variables géométriques ont été identifiées dans le modèle de prédiction du risque de dissection: le diamètre de la crosse, la longueur de l'aorte thoracique et l'âge. En conclusion, nos résultats montrent que les maladies aortiques sont étroitement associées à la géométrie de l'aorte indépendamment des facteurs de risque traditionnels. Les algorithmes que nous avons développés ouvrent la voie à l'automatisation et à une réduction de la variabilité des mesures. / New imaging technologies, including those associated with multislice computed tomography, allow to evaluate the structure of the thoracic aorta in 3D with an impressive resolution. Aortic virtual reconstruction and geometric modeling are essential for imaging evaluation because manual measurements are time-consuming, and the available tools still need to be adapted to complex aortic morphologies. The aorta is more than a simple tubular conduit vessel for blood. It also regulates the pulsatile pressure waves that are injected into the arterial system by the left ventricle. The biomechanical disorders produced by these waves can accelerate the formation of calcium deposits within the arterial wall. Furthermore, they are thought to be responsible for severe aortic complications, including aneurysms and dissections. Endovascular aortic repair is a modern technique based on the implantation of an endograft to restore the normal blood flow. Precise morphological measurements are required to improve this technique, for both surgery planning and patient follow up. Our objective was to develop original algorithms to study the aortic geometry in 3D. A computing platform was designed and tested to analyze three main aortic pathologies: calcified atherosclerosis, aneurysms and dissections. The hypothesis of our study was that the individual arterial geometry of a subject plays a complementary role in the development of vascular pathologies beyond traditional risk factors. Our first work revealed that 80% of the total geometric variability in the thoracic aorta might be explained using 3 factors: the aortic volume, the aortic arc unfolding and its asymmetry. Variability percentages accounted for 46%, 22% and 12%, respectively. The next 2 works, showed that calcifications in the thoracic aorta were concentrated in the aortic arch and in the proximal descending segment. This spatial distribution was associated with aortic morphology, independently of age, sex, body surface area and traditional risk factors. Our fourth article revealed that calcium deposits in the entire thoracic aorta (including the aortic arch) was associated with non-cardiac events, beyond the standard coronary artery calcium score. It is noteworthy that the aortic arch region is systematically excluded from standard scans. Our fifth manuscript described a novel deformable model applied to the aortic segmentation under pathological contexts. It was used to estimate the size and shape of abdominal aneurysms before and after endograft implantation. In the last work, this method was adapted to study the geometry of the thoracic aorta of patients with an aortic dissection with respect to a control group. Three anatomic variables were identified for the risk prediction model: the aortic arch diameter, the thoracic aortic length and the age of the patient. In conclusion, our results show that aortic diseases are closely associated with aortic geometry, independently from traditional risk factors. The developed algorithms improved the automation of measurements and reduced the variability of the estimations.