title: Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity is Associated with Composite Carotid and Coronary Atherosclerosis in a Middle-Aged Asymptomatic Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although arterial stiffness has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis, the role of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) for diagnosing composite coronary and carotid atherosclerosis has not been completely elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 773 asymptomatic individuals who were referred from 25 public health centers in Seoul and who underwent carotid ultrasonography and coronary computed tomography. Non-invasive hemodynamic parameters, including baPWV, were also measured. Composite coronary and carotid atherosclerosis was defined as follows: 1) coronary artery calcium (CAC) score ≥ 100, 2) coronary artery stenosis (CAS) ≥ 50% of diameter stenosis, 3) carotid intima medial thickness (CIMT) ≥ 0.9 mm, or 4) presence of carotid artery plaque (CAP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of composite coronary and carotid atherosclerosis was 28.2%. Coronary atherosclerosis (CAC and CAS) was significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis (CIMT and CAP). Subjects with higher baPWV (highest quartile) had a higher prevalence of composite coronary and carotid atherosclerosis (p＜.001). Although multivariate analysis failed to show baPWV as an independent predictor for composite atherosclerosis, baPWV had moderate diagnostic power to detect a subject with more than two positive subclinical atherosclerosis exams [area under the curve (AUC), 0.692].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  baPWV was associated with the composite coronary and carotid atherosclerotic burden in a community-based asymptomatic population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Sang-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seunghun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Soon Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Cheol Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Do-Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography