title: Values of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) between Amami islands and Kagoshima mainland among health checkup examinees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and geographical variation of high arterial stiffness in groups from the Amami islands (Amami) and Kagoshima mainland (mainland), Japan, using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) as a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 4,523 health checkup examinees from Amami and 440 examinees from the mainland, with an age range of 40-69 years. The frequency of high arterial stiffness (CAVI≥9.0) was geographically compared between the regions, and both mean CAVI values were compared with those of the healthy Japanese population with less risk factors for coronary artery disease. Clinical, lifestyle, and regional factors for increased CAVI values were estimated by the multiple linear regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of high arterial stiffness on Amami was significantly lower than on the mainland. Mean CAVI values on Amami were similar in males and lower in females than in the healthy Japanese population, but those on the mainland were higher for both sexes. Age, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were positively related to increased CAVI values on Amami. The regional factor of Amami, compared with the mainland, was negatively related to increased CAVI values in both sexes after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAVI values in Amami residents were significantly lower than in mainland residents, suggesting that environmental or genetic factors might have improved arterial stiffness in the Amami population.
authors: Department of International Island and Community Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
authors: Kazuyo
authors: K
authors: Hirasada
authors: Hideshi
authors: H
authors: Niimura
authors: Takuro
authors: T
authors: Kubozono
authors: Akihiko
authors: A
authors: Nakamura
authors: Masaya
authors: M
authors: Tatebo
authors: Shin
authors: S
authors: Ogawa
authors: Noriko
authors: N
authors: Tsunematsu
authors: Shirabe
authors: S
authors: Chiba
authors: Toshifumi
authors: T
authors: Matsushita
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Kusano
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Miyata
authors: Toshiro
authors: T
authors: Takezaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015415:Biomarkers; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers