title: Increased aortic pulse wave velocity is associated with the presence of angiographic coronary artery disease in overweight and obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased arterial stiffness assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV) and central augmentation index (AIx), has been associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis and increased prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD). Obesity, a well-recognized cardiovascular risk factor, has been related to increased arterial stiffness, although not consistently. The aim of this work was to investigate the association of arterial stiffness indices with obesity measures in patients undergoing coronary angiography and to study any potential association of arterial stiffness with angiographic CAD in relation to obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-three patients with suspected stable CAD (aged 61±10 years; n = 303 men) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography were included. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were measured. Arterial stiffness was assessed by CFPWV and AIx using applanation tonometry in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CFPWV was not associated with obesity measures in multiple-adjusted logistic regression analysis (P > 0.05), whereas AIx was inversely associated with BMI and WC (P < 0.05 for both). Increased CFPWV was associated with CAD in overweight and obese patients (BMI ≥25kg/m(2); WC ≥94cm in men and ≥80cm in women; P < 0.05). No association of AIx with CAD was found (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arterial stiffness indices were not consistently associated with obesity, opposite to what might have been expected. The association of increased CFPWV with the presence of angiographic CAD in patients with increased BMI or WC values warrants further research.
authors: Michaelidion Cardiac Center, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ionnina, Greece.
authors: Aris
authors: A
authors: Bechlioulis
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Vakalis
authors: Katerina K
authors: KK
authors: Naka
authors: Christos V
authors: CV
authors: Bourantas
authors: Nikolaos D
authors: ND
authors: Papamichael
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Kotsia
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Tzimas
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Pappas
authors: Christos S
authors: CS
authors: Katsouras
authors: Lampros K
authors: LK
authors: Michalis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology