Ly more observed in patients with AoAC at baseline (P,0.001). Among 140 patients with AoAC at baseline, 90 patients (64.2 ) experienced AoAC progression, whereas AoAC progressed in only 12 (5.3 ) out of 223 patients without baseline AoAC. Two hundred eleven patients with AoACS of zero at baseline remained free of AoAC during the 12-month follow-up. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that changes in AoACS were significantly associated with baseline AoACS (r = 0.389, P,0.001), age (r = 0.301, P,0.001), and time-averaged hs-CRP (r = 0.167, P = 0.001) and calcium concentrations (r = 0.124, P = 0.02). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis,Ca, calcium; P, phosphate; hs-CRP, high sensitivity C-reative protein; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; NS, not significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048793.tbaseline AoACS (OR: 1.803, 95 CI: 1.383?.349, P,0.001), age (OR: 1.058, 95 CI: 1.016?.101, P = 0.006), and hs-CRP levels (OR: 1.904, 95 CI: 1.180?.070, P = 0.008) were found to be independent risk KS-176 site factors associated with AoAC progression. Since the baseline AoACS was significantly correlated with AoAC progression, subgroup analysis was performed to clarify the independent predictor for AoAC MNS web progression in patients with and without baseline AoAC. In patients with AoAC at baseline, there was a significant correlation between hs-CRP concentrations and the changes in AoACS (r = 0.248, P = 0.02), while changes in AoACS were significantly associated with age (r = 0.124, P = 0.04) and hs-CRP levels (r = 0.126, P = 0.036) in patents without baseline AoAC. However, the changes in Ca 6 P products andFigure 1. Kaplan-Meier analysis of (A) all-cause and (B) cardiovascular mortality in 415 patients. Patients with baseline aortic arch calcification (AoAC) showed significantly higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than those without (both log-rank test, P,0.001). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048793.gProgression of Aortic Arch Calcification in PDiPTH concentrations did not correlate with changes in AoACS in both subgroups. Similar findings were observed in binary logistic regression analysis. In patients with AoAC at baseline, univariate analysis reavealed that diabetes mellitus, previous cardiovascular disease, lipid-lowering therapy, hs-CRP levels, and baseline AoACS were significantly associated with AoAC progression. In multivariate binary logistic regression models, baseline AoACS (OR: 1.234, 95 CI: 1.104?.197, P = 0.027) and hs-CRP levels (OR: 2.238, 95 CI: 1.051?.767, P = 0.037) were independent predictors of AoAC progression after adjustment for confounders. On the other hand, in patients without baseline AoAC, age, previous cardiovascular disease, the use of lipid-lowering drugs, 23977191 and hs-CRP levels were significant predictors of AoAC progression in univariate analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression models demonstrated that age (OR: 1.063, 95 CI: 1.014?.113, P = 0.002) and hs-CRP concentrations (OR: 1.294, 95 CI: 1.019?.581, P = 0.035) were significant risk factors for AoAC progression. However, peritoneal membrane transport characteristics, weekly Kt/V urea, Ca x P products, iPTH concentrations, and the use of phosphate binders were not significantly associated with AoAC progression in both subgroups.Progression of AoAC as an Independent Risk Factor for MortalityIn patients with AoAC at baseline, all-cause and cardiovascular death rates were significantly higher in the AoAC progression group (19.8 vs. 8.6 and.Ly more observed in patients with AoAC at baseline (P,0.001). Among 140 patients with AoAC at baseline, 90 patients (64.2 ) experienced AoAC progression, whereas AoAC progressed in only 12 (5.3 ) out of 223 patients without baseline AoAC. Two hundred eleven patients with AoACS of zero at baseline remained free of AoAC during the 12-month follow-up. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that changes in AoACS were significantly associated with baseline AoACS (r = 0.389, P,0.001), age (r = 0.301, P,0.001), and time-averaged hs-CRP (r = 0.167, P = 0.001) and calcium concentrations (r = 0.124, P = 0.02). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis,Ca, calcium; P, phosphate; hs-CRP, high sensitivity C-reative protein; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; NS, not significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048793.tbaseline AoACS (OR: 1.803, 95 CI: 1.383?.349, P,0.001), age (OR: 1.058, 95 CI: 1.016?.101, P = 0.006), and hs-CRP levels (OR: 1.904, 95 CI: 1.180?.070, P = 0.008) were found to be independent risk factors associated with AoAC progression. Since the baseline AoACS was significantly correlated with AoAC progression, subgroup analysis was performed to clarify the independent predictor for AoAC progression in patients with and without baseline AoAC. In patients with AoAC at baseline, there was a significant correlation between hs-CRP concentrations and the changes in AoACS (r = 0.248, P = 0.02), while changes in AoACS were significantly associated with age (r = 0.124, P = 0.04) and hs-CRP levels (r = 0.126, P = 0.036) in patents without baseline AoAC. However, the changes in Ca 6 P products andFigure 1. Kaplan-Meier analysis of (A) all-cause and (B) cardiovascular mortality in 415 patients. Patients with baseline aortic arch calcification (AoAC) showed significantly higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality than those without (both log-rank test, P,0.001). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048793.gProgression of Aortic Arch Calcification in PDiPTH concentrations did not correlate with changes in AoACS in both subgroups. Similar findings were observed in binary logistic regression analysis. In patients with AoAC at baseline, univariate analysis reavealed that diabetes mellitus, previous cardiovascular disease, lipid-lowering therapy, hs-CRP levels, and baseline AoACS were significantly associated with AoAC progression. In multivariate binary logistic regression models, baseline AoACS (OR: 1.234, 95 CI: 1.104?.197, P = 0.027) and hs-CRP levels (OR: 2.238, 95 CI: 1.051?.767, P = 0.037) were independent predictors of AoAC progression after adjustment for confounders. On the other hand, in patients without baseline AoAC, age, previous cardiovascular disease, the use of lipid-lowering drugs, 23977191 and hs-CRP levels were significant predictors of AoAC progression in univariate analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression models demonstrated that age (OR: 1.063, 95 CI: 1.014?.113, P = 0.002) and hs-CRP concentrations (OR: 1.294, 95 CI: 1.019?.581, P = 0.035) were significant risk factors for AoAC progression. However, peritoneal membrane transport characteristics, weekly Kt/V urea, Ca x P products, iPTH concentrations, and the use of phosphate binders were not significantly associated with AoAC progression in both subgroups.Progression of AoAC as an Independent Risk Factor for MortalityIn patients with AoAC at baseline, all-cause and cardiovascular death rates were significantly higher in the AoAC progression group (19.8 vs. 8.6 and.