Lung function in mid-life compared with later life is a stronger predictor of arterial stiffness in men: the Caerphilly Prospective Study.
BACKGROUND
Increased arterial stiffness predicts future cardiovascular disease and in some cross-sectional studies it is related to worse lung function and obstructive pulmonary disease. We assessed the predictive value of lung function measured in mid-life as compared with later life on arterial stiffness in the Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS).


METHODS
Men aged 47-67 years had lung function measured between 1984 and 1988 and repeated between 2002 and 2004 (n = 827) as well as having carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) measured.


RESULTS
Both forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in mid-life and later life were inversely associated with PWV (P < 0.0001) but mid-life measures were stronger predictors. Only mid-life measures remained predictors after mutual adjustment (FEV(1) mid-life beta coeff. -0.65, 95% CI -1.04, -0.26, P < 0.0001; FVC mid-life beta coeff. -0.52, 95% CI -0.82, -0.23, P < 0.0001). Adjustment for smoking status, early life, inflammatory and metabolic factors in sub-groups did not markedly change the associations.


CONCLUSIONS
Mid-life lung function is a stronger risk factor than in later life for arterial stiffness in men. It is possible that developmental factors influence both lung function and arterial stiffness. Lung function assessment in mid-life may identify individuals at greater risk of their future cardiovascular disease.
Bolton
Charlotte E
CE
Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Wales, UK. boltonce@cf.ac.uk
Cockcroft
John R
JR
Sabit
Ramsey
R
Munnery
Margaret
M
McEniery
Carmel M
CM
Wilkinson
Ian B
IB
Ebrahim
Shah
S
Gallacher
John E
JE
Shale
Dennis J
DJ
Ben-Shlomo
Yoav
Y
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology*; D014852:Wales