Arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between pulse wave velocity (PWV), an estimate of arterial distensibility and cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
This cross-sectional population-based study was carried out from 1995 to 1997 to investigate these relationships.


METHODS
Some 993 subjects, aged 35-64 years (52.7% men), living in the south-west of France, were randomly selected from electoral rolls and participated in a cross-sectional study. Medical examinations were performed by specially trained medical staff. Carotid-femoral PWV was measured using a semiautomatic device (Complior, Garges les Gonesse, France). The relationships between PWV and risk factors were assessed, first in subjects not treated with hypolipidaemic, antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs and then in treated subjects. In subjects not treated for cardiovascular risk factors, age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (P< 0.001) were the variables significantly associated with PWV. In treated patients, age (P < 0.01), SBP (P < 0.001), heart rate (P < 0.001), apolipoprotein B (P< 0.05) and the number of treated cardiovascular risk factors (P< 0.05) were positively correlated with PWV.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that, in a sample of subjects at high risk, the cumulative influence of risk factors, even treated, is an independent determinant of arterial stiffness. These results suggest that PWV may be used as a relevant tool to assess the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on aortic stiffness in high-risk patients.
Amar
J
J
Service de Médecine Interne et d'Hypertension Artérielle, CHU Purpan Toulouse, France. amar.j@chu-toulouse.fr
Ruidavets
J B
JB
Chamontin
B
B
Drouet
L
L
Ferrières
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance