Aortic arterial stiffness associates with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in younger middle-aged healthy people
Creators: name: Söderström, Martina
name: Grönlund, Christer
name: Liv, Per
name: Nyman, Emma
name: Näslund, Ulf
name: Wester, Per
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Medicine
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Physiology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Aortic stiffness, assessed as estimated aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) are markers of vascular age, and carotid plaques are a marker of early atherosclerosis. In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the association between aPWV, cIMT and plaques across different age groups and in women and men, in a middle-aged healthy population. Participants in the 6.5-year follow-up of the VIPVIZA trial who were aged 47, 57 and 67 underwent an oscillometric measurement which estimates aPWV between 2020 and 2023. Carotid ultrasound examinations were also performed. Linear and ordinal regression models were used to investigate how aPWV associates with cIMT and with carotid plaques, for the overall study group and stratified for age groups and sex. A total of 1046 subjects were included in the analyses. Linear associations between aPWV and cIMT (β = 0.018, 95% CI: 0.006–0.030, <i>p</i> = 0.003), and between aPWV and plaques (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–1.38, <i>p</i> = 0.018), were seen in the 57-year-olds. In the 47-year-olds a significant association was seen between aPWV and plaques (OR: 2.98 95% CI: 1.44–6.14, <i>p</i> = 0.003). No significant associations were seen in the 67-year-olds. For women, a significant association between aPWV and cIMT (β = 0.011, 95% CI: 0.004–0.017, <i>p</i> = 0.002) was shown. Estimated aPWV was positively associated with increasing cIMT and the presence of carotid plaques in younger middle-aged individuals, and with cIMT in women, suggesting that measurement of estimated aPWV may improve cardiovascular risk assessment in younger middle-aged individuals and women. Clinical Trial Registration date 8 May 2013: URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01849575. <b>What is the context?</b> Vascular ageing is a process where the arteries become stiff, leading to impaired function and organ damage. Stiff arteries increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aortic pulse wave velocity is a measurement of arterial stiffness and a marker of vascular age. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque presence are other markers of vascular age and early atherosclerosis. There are limited data on the association between aortic pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques.<b>What is new?</b> We measured estimated aortic pulse wave velocity using an oscillometric device and performed carotid ultrasound examinations for assessment of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in healthy middle-aged individuals across three different age groups. The association between aortic pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques was examined in the different age groups and in women and men separately.<b>What is the impact?</b> Estimated aortic pulse wave velocity was associated with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in younger middle-aged individuals and with carotid intima-media thickness in women. Suggesting that for these groups – healthy younger middle-aged people, and especially women – measurement of estimated aortic pulse wave velocity could improve evaluation of cardiovascular risk. <b>What is the context?</b> Vascular ageing is a process where the arteries become stiff, leading to impaired function and organ damage. Stiff arteries increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aortic pulse wave velocity is a measurement of arterial stiffness and a marker of vascular age. Carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaque presence are other markers of vascular age and early atherosclerosis. There are limited data on the association between aortic pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques. <b>What is new?</b> We measured estimated aortic pulse wave velocity using an oscillometric device and performed carotid ultrasound examinations for assessment of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in healthy middle-aged individuals across three different age groups. The association between aortic pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques was examined in the different age groups and in women and men separately. <b>What is the impact?</b> Estimated aortic pulse wave velocity was associated with carotid intima-media thickness and carotid plaques in younger middle-aged individuals and with carotid intima-media thickness in women. Suggesting that for these groups – healthy younger middle-aged people, and especially women – measurement of estimated aortic pulse wave velocity could improve evaluation of cardiovascular risk.