Association between Biomarkers of Inflammation and 10-Year Changes in Aortic Stiffness: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background. Chronic inflammation is associated with incident cardiovascular events. We study the association between biomarkers of inflammation and subclinical vascular dysfunction measured as proximal aortic stiffness. Methods. MRI imaging was performed in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) at baseline (2000) and at the 10-year follow-up. Aortic arch pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ascending and descending aorta distensibility (AAD, DAD) were measured in 1223 asymptomatic individuals at both exams. Linear regression was used to study the association of baseline inflammation—C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), and fibrinogen (Fib)—with baseline and 10-year changes in aortic stiffness (PWV, AAD, DAD). Results. The mean age of the participants was 59 ± 9 years, 47.8% of them were men, 32.6% were hypertensive at baseline, and 7.6% were diabetic. At baseline and follow-up, the mean AAD values were, respectively, 1.73 × 10−3 mmHg−1 and 1.57 × 10−3 mmHg−1, the mean DAD values were 2.19 × 10−3 mmHg−1 and 1.99 × 10−3 mmHg−1, and the mean PWV values were 8.10 m/s and 8.99 m/s. At baseline, the AAD (in 10−3 mmHg−1) and DAD (in 10−3 mmHg−1) were inversely associated with CRP (in mg/L) (AAD coeff: −0.047, p-value: 0.011, DAD coeff: −0.068, p-value: <0.001) and IL6 (in pg/mL) (AAD coeff: −0.098, p-value: 0.003, DAD coeff: −0.14, p-value: <0.001) in a univariable analysis but not after adjustment for demographic variables or cardiovascular risk factors. The baseline DAD was inversely associated with Fib (in mg/dL) (coeff: −0.334, p-value: 0.001). The baseline PWV (in m/s) was positively associated with IL6 (in pg/mL) in a univariable analysis (coeff: 0.054, p-value: 0.014). In a longitudinal analysis, the 10-year changes in DAD were inversely associated with CRP, even after adjustment for demographics and risk factors (DAD coeff: −0.08, p-value 0.044). Conclusions. Higher CRP levels at baseline were independently associated with a 10-year increase in aortic stiffness, measured as decreased aortic distensibility.