ESC Congress 2026 Abstract · Oct 26, 2026

Impact of diabetes mellitus on aortic valve calcification – a cross-sectional study of two large multicenter cohorts

By Haujir A, Kumarathurai P, Stidsen JV et al.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but its relationship with aortic valve calcification (AVC) remains unclear. Aim: The present study aims to investigate whether the presence of DM is associated with a higher prevalence of AVC. Methods: This cross-sectional study combines two large multicenter cohorts: the Steno Inten-CT and DANCAVAS studies. The Steno INTEN-CT study is an ongoing randomized controlled trial using cardiac computed tomography (CT) for cardiovascular risk stratification in individuals with DM, aged 55-69 years (men) and 60-74 (women). DANCAVAS trial is a population-based cardiovascular screening study conducted between 2014 and 2019 that enrolled individuals aged 60-74 years. Participants with available AVC scores were included in the present study. Propensity score matching was performed, and AVC was analyzed as binary outcome (0 vs > 0) using logistic regression with clustering by matched pairs. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. Results: AVC was available in 17,059 participants, and after propensity matching, 5,608 pairs were included in the analysis. Univariate analysis identified age (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.10-1.23, p <0.001), male sex (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.37-1.63, p <0.001), BMI (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04, p <0.001), hypertension (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.54-1.80, < 0.001) LDL cholesterol (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 – 1.10, p = 0.015), smoking (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22-1.43, p <0.001), impaired renal function (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.36, p = 0.008), and statin use (OR 1.48, 95 % CI 1.37-1.59, p < 0.001) as associated with the presence of AVC. However, DM did not associate with the presence of AVC (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99, p = 0.046). In a multivariable model, age, sex, BMI, hypertension, LDL, and smoking status remained independently associated with AVC, whereas DM was not (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.95–1.14; p = 0.395). Conclusion: In this population-based study, DM was not associated with AVC. Instead, traditional cardiovascular risk factors were associated with increased odds of having AVC.Forest plotAortic Valve Calcification on CT

doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag785.3284Open accessPopulations