title: Impact of biological aging on arterial aging in American Indians: findings from the Strong Heart Family Study.
abstract: Telomere length, a marker of biological aging, has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased arterial stiffness, an indicator of arterial aging, predicts adverse CVD outcomes. However, the relationship between telomere length and arterial stiffness is less well studied. Here we examined the cross-sectional association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and arterial stiffness in 2,165 American Indians in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). LTL was measured by qPCR. Arterial stiffness was assessed by stiffness index β. The association between LTL and arterial stiffness was assessed by generalized estimating equation model, adjusting for sociodemographics (age, sex, education level), study site, metabolic factors (fasting glucose, lipids, systolic blood pressure, and kidney function), lifestyle (BMI, smoking, drinking, and physical activity), and prevalent CVD. Results showed that longer LTL was significantly associated with a decreased arterial stiffness (β=-0.070, P=0.007). This association did not attenuate after further adjustment for hsCRP (β=-0.071, P=0.005) or excluding participants with overt CVD (β=-0.068, P=0.012), diabetes (β=-0.070, P=0.005), or chronic kidney disease (β=-0.090, P=0.001). In summary, shorter LTL was significantly associated with an increased arterial stiffness, independent of known risk factors. This finding may shed light on the potential role of biological aging in arterial aging in American Indians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Center for American Indian Health Research, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Fawn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA.
authors.forename: Shelley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc, Timber Lake, SD 57656, USA.
authors.forename: Lyle G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Best
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Jue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.affiliation: Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Devereux
authors.affiliation: Greenberg Division of Cardiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Roman
authors.affiliation: Center for American Indian Health Research, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
authors.forename: Elisa T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Jinying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D059505:Telomere Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
keywords: American Indians; Strong Heart Family Study; arterial aging; arterial stiffness; biological aging; leukocyte telomere length