title: Predictive markers of abdominal aortic stiffness measured by echo-tracking in subjects with varying insulin sensitivity.
abstract: Arterial stiffness is influenced by advancing age and vascular disease and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and death. Using ultrasound measurements, arterial stiffness in a specific arterial segment can be assessed. The aim of this observational study was to explore the prospective and cross-sectional associations between arterial stiffness measured by ultrasound locally in the abdominal aorta and cardiovascular risk factors/markers including insulin resistance measured by the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipids and abdominal obesity. This study includes 335 subjects from Malmö, Sweden, examined in 1991-1994 and again at follow-up in 1998-2000 (mean age 64 years, 42% men). Ultrasound measurement of the abdominal aorta was performed at follow-up investigation. In the female subgroup, there was a positive association between HOMA-IR at baseline and abdominal aortic stiffness at follow-up (β = 0.18, P = 0.03) and a negative association between high-density lipoprotein and aortic stiffness (β = -0.23, P = 0.005), independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors. These associations were not found among men. The results suggest a greater or different role of impaired glucose metabolism in the pathophysiology of arterial stiffness in women than in men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottsäter
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Länne
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL