title: [Relationship of arterial wall parameters to cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk assessed by SCORE system].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship of arterial wall parameters (flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, augmentation index, pulse wave velocity, stiffness index, carotid intima-media thickness) to conventional cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular risk assessed by SCORE system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 209 subjects aged 40-65 years without clinically overt cardiovascular disease were examined. Parameters of arterial stiffness were obtained by two methods: augmentation index and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity by applanation tonometry and stiffness index by the means of finger photoplethysmography. Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, reflecting endothelial function, and carotid intima-media thickness was determined using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age and the presence of diabetes strongly influenced all parameters of the arterial wall (diabetes was not independent predictor when evaluating augmentation index). Mean arterial pressure and gender were independent predictors for arterial stiffness parameters--carotid-radial pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. Flow-mediated dilatation was strongly dependent on the diameter of the brachial artery, age, and body mass index. Using logistic regression, it was found that pulse wave velocity (P=0.014), intima-media thickness (P=0.004), and flow-mediated dilatation (P=0.020) were important parameters dividing subjects to the groups of increased (> or =5%) and low (<5%) cardiovascular risk assessed by SCORE system. The cutoff values for intima-media thickness and pulse wave velocity were 0.078 cm and 8.95 m/s, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial wall parameters are closely associated with conventional risk factors; they are influenced by age and the presence of diabetes. Arterial stiffness parameters are also influenced by mean arterial pressure; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol has influence on carotid intima-media thickness. Cutoff values for carotid intima-media thickness and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity could help to discriminate patients with increased cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Center of Cardiology and Angiology, Santariskes Clinics of Vilnius University Hospital, Santariskiu 2, Vilnius, Lithuania. milda.kovaite@santa.lt
authors.forename: Milda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovaite
authors.forename: Zaneta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrulioniene
authors.forename: Ligita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ryliskyte
authors.forename: Jolita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Badariene
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cypiene
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dzenkeviciūte
authors.forename: Aleksandras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laucevicius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D017156:Photoplethysmography; D011379:Prognosis; D011674:Pulse; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol