Association between different risk factors and vascular accelerated ageing (EVA study): study protocol for a cross-sectional, descriptive observational study.
The process of population ageing that is occurring in developed societies represents a major challenge for the health system. The aim of this study is to analyse factors that have an influence on early vascular ageing (EVA), estimated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and Cardio Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI), and to determine differences by gender in a Spanish population.



An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study.



From the population assigned to the participating healthcare centres, a cluster random sampling stratified by age and gender will be performed to obtain 500 participants aged between 35 and 75. Those who meet the inclusion criteria and give written informed consent will be included in the study.



Main dependent variables: cf-PWV determined using the SphygmoCor System and CAVI estimated using VASERA. Secondary dependent variables: telomere length, carotid intima-media thickness, central and peripheral augmentation index, ankle-brachial pulse wave velocity, ankle-brachial index, retinal arteriovenous index, and renal and cardiac organ damage.



lifestyles (physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption); psychological factors (depression, anxiety and chronic stress); inflammatory factors and oxidative stress.



The study has been approved by the clinical research ethics committee of the healthcare area of Salamanca. All study participants will sign an informed consent form agreeing to participate in the study in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the WHO standards for observational studies. The results of this study will allow the understanding of the relationship of the different influencing factors and their relative weight in the development of EVA. At least 5 publications in first-quartile scientific journals are planned.



NCT02623894; Pre-results.
Primary Care Research Unit, Instituto of Investigación Biomédica of Salamanca (IBSAL), The Alamedilla Health Center, Castilla and León Health Service-SACYL, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Department of Medicine, REDIAPP, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Manuel A
MA
Gomez-Marcos
Unit Renal Physiology and Pathophysiology Cardiovascular Unit, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, IBSAL, Queen Sofia Institute of Nephrology Research, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Carlos
C
Martinez-Salgado
IBSAL and Instituto of Biología Molecular and Celular of Cáncer (IBMCC), University of Salamanca-SACYL, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Rogelio
R
Gonzalez-Sarmiento
IBSAL, IBMCC, Cancer Research Center, University of Salamanca, CSIC, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Department of Hematology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Jesus Ma
JM
Hernandez-Rivas
IBSAL, University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Cardiology Department, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Pedro L
PL
Sanchez-Fernandez
Primary Care Research Unit, IBSAL, The Alamedilla Health Center, Castilla and León Health Service-SACYL, REDIAPP, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Jose I
JI
Recio-Rodriguez
Primary Care Research Unit, Instituto of Investigación Biomédica of Salamanca (IBSAL), The Alamedilla Health Center, Castilla and León Health Service-SACYL, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Department of Medicine, REDIAPP, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Emiliano
E
Rodriguez-Sanchez
Primary Care Research Unit, BSAL, The Alamedilla Health Center, Castilla and León Health Service-SACYL, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences Department, REDIAPP, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain.
Luis
L
García-Ortiz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis / Q000379:methods; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D016615:Telomere; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
Aging; Arterial stiffness; Diet; Inflammatory markers; Physical activity; Psychological factors