Interrelations between brachial endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness in young adults: the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.
BACKGROUND
Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction and carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) are 2 indicators of subclinical cardiovascular disease. We examined their correlation and interaction with risk factors in a large, community-based cohort of young adults.


RESULTS
As part of the longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, we measured endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and carotid artery IMT by ultrasound in 2109 healthy adults aged 24 to 39 years. FMD was inversely associated with IMT (P< or =0.001) in a multivariate model adjusted for age, sex, brachial vessel size, and several risk variables. The subjects with age- and sex-specific FMD values in the extreme deciles were classified into groups of impaired (n=204, FMD=1.1+/-1.4%, mean+/-SD) and enhanced (n=204, FMD=16.3+/-2.9%) FMD response. The number of risk factors was correlated with increased IMT in subjects with an impaired FMD response (P<0.05) but not in subjects with an enhanced FMD response (P>0.2).


CONCLUSIONS
Brachial FMD is inversely associated with carotid IMT. The number of risk factors in young adults is correlated with increased IMT in subjects with evidence of endothelial dysfunction, but not in subjects with preserved endothelial function. These observations suggest that endothelial dysfunction is an early event in atherosclerosis and that the status of systemic endothelial function may modify the association between risk factors and atherosclerosis.
Juonala
Markus
M
Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Viikari
Jorma S A
JS
Laitinen
Tomi
T
Marniemi
Jukka
J
Helenius
Hans
H
Rönnemaa
Tapani
T
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000235:genetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018056:Hemorheology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol