RESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A systematic literature review was performed to evaluate diabetes mellitus (DM) as a risk factor of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC), and address factors that might contribute to the development of AAC in DM patients. RECENT FINDINGS: DM is an independent risk factor of AAC development. Bone metabolism along with lifestyle factors among DM patients makes them more prone to AAC. Hip and vertebral fractures, high phosphate, smoking, hypertension, and low osteocalcin could make DM patients prone to AAC. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high total cholesterol/HDL ratio, low bone mineral density (BMD) may be risk factors, but the literature is more ambiguous. Body mass index (BMI) does not appear to increase risk of AAC. High phosphate levels and low osteocalcin levels seem to be biomarkers of AAC in patients with diabetes. However, the association between DM and AAC is complicated.
