Relative contributions of different cardiovascular risk factors to significant arterial stiffness.
BACKGROUND
Although arterial stiffness has been known to be related to many cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, the level of contribution of each risk factor to significant arterial stiffness is not yet clear.


METHODS
We studied an out-patient cohort of 835 subjects who were without a history of CV disease. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement and Framingham risk score (FRS) calculation were performed for all subjects.


RESULTS
baPWV was well correlated with FRS (r=0.523, P<0.001) and it could independently predict it (P<0.001) after adjusting for the conventional CV risk factors. We defined a baPWV>1710 cm/s as significant arterial stiffness on the basis of its ability to detect a high 10-year risk of coronary heart disease (FRS>20%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted odds ratios of significant arterial stiffness for an age >60 years, hypertension, male gender, smoking and diabetes were 6.2 (95% CI 4.4-8.7), 3.4 (95% CI 2.1-5.3), 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.8), 1.9 (95% CI 1.2-3.2) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4), respectively. Hyperlipidemia and obesity were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Old age and hypertension were the strongest independent predictors of significant arterial stiffness. Male gender, smoking and diabetes followed in order of strength as independent predictors.
Hae Guen Song
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
Eung Ju Kim
Hong Seog Seo
Seong Hwan Kim
Chang Gyu Park
Seong Woo Han
Ryu
Kyu-Hyung
KH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*