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Arterial stiffness in relation to subclinical atherosclerosis
Author(s) -
Wykretowicz A.,
Gerstenberger P.,
Guzik P.,
Milewska A.,
Krauze T.,
Adamska K.,
Rutkowska A.,
Wysocki H.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2008.02057.x
Subject(s) - arterial stiffness , pulse wave velocity , medicine , cardiology , arteriosclerosis , subclinical infection , blood pressure , pulse pressure
Background Increased arterial stiffness or arteriosclerosis, represents a physiological part of ageing. Atherosclerosis is a process that does not affect the arterial bed uniformly but has a variable local distribution and is frequently superimposed on stiffened vessels. We therefore addressed the question of whether any correlation exists between the general characteristics of arterial stiffness or wave reflection and subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) in a sample of healthy subjects. Methods A total of 116 healthy subjects (mean age 55 years, 43 female) were evaluated. Arterial stiffness and wave reflection was assessed with the use of digital volume pulse analysis (DVP) and pulse wave analysis (PWA). Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measurement of IMT. Results Stiffness Index (SI DVP ), the measure of general arterial stiffness correlated significantly with IMT ( r = 0·37, P < 0·01). IMT correlated significantly with age ( r = 0·5, P < 0·0001), waist to hip ratio (WHR) ( r = 0·39, P < 0·0001) and mean blood pressure (BPmean) ( r = 0·4, P < 0·0001). IMT did not correlate with measures of wave reflection. SI DVP correlated significantly with age ( r = 0·32, P < 0·005), WHR ( r = 0·36, P < 0·0001), BPmean ( r = 0·36, P < 0·0001) and measurements of wave reflection. However analysis of a model which included variables that significantly influenced SI DVP and IMT, such as age, WHR and mean BP showed that arterial stiffness is not independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusions The indices of subclinical atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness and wave reflection, indicate different aspects of vascular status in otherwise healthy subjects