Key result
Increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors was significantly associated with progressive increases in arterial stiffness (PWV 5.8 vs 6.4 vs 6.7 m/s; P=0.002) in patients with normal carotid IMT.
Why the study?
Does the number of cardiovascular risk factors correlate with increased arterial stiffness in asymptomatic patients with normal carotid IMT?
Cross-Sectional (n=75)
Does the number of cardiovascular risk factors correlate with increased arterial stiffness in asymptomatic patients with normal carotid IMT?
p-value: p=0.002
In patients with normal carotid IMT and no plaques, arterial stiffness significantly increases with the number of cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting early functional changes precede structural abnormalities.
Should not alter management in asymptomatic patients with normal IMT; hypothesis-generating for early stiffness as a modifiable marker.
AIMS: We aimed to evaluate, through an Echotracking system, the functional changes of carotid arteries with relation to the amount of cardiovascular risk factors in patients without structural atherosclerotic damage. METHODS: From a series of 260 asymptomatic consecutive patients we selected 75 patients (mean age: 47 ± 8 years) with normal intima-media thickness (IMT) and without atherosclerotic plaques. In these patients, local arterial stiffness parameters were evaluated using a simple Echotracking system. Patients were divided in three groups: group 1 (n = 25 patients without risk factors), group 2 (n = 23 patients with one risk factor) and group 3 (n = 27 patients with two or more risk factors). RESULTS: Carotid IMT was similar in all groups (P = ns). On the contrary, stiffness parameters progressively increased according to the number of risk factors [pulse wave velocity (PWV) = 5.8 ± 1.1 m/s, 6.4 ± 1.2 m/s and 6.7 ± 1.4 m/s in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, P = 0.002; β-index = 7.5 ± 3.4, 8.5 ± 3.2 and 9.5 ± 4.7 in Group 1, 2 and 3, respectively, P = 0.047]. Furthermore, on multivariate linear regression analysis, PWV and β-index significantly correlated (P = 0.002 and P = 0.048, respectively) with the number of risk factors even when adjusted for age, gender and current therapy. CONCLUSION: In a population with normal carotid IMT and without plaques, changes in arterial stiffness are significantly related to the number of risk factors. This information could be relevant for a more tailored primary prevention in patients with risk factors even in absence of structural atherosclerotic abnormalities.
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Mohammed et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular risk factors with normal carotid intima-media thickness (n=75). Cardiovascular risk factors vs. No cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated on Arterial stiffness parameters (pulse wave velocity and β-index) (p=0.002). Increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors was significantly associated with progressive increases in arterial stiffness (PWV 5.8 vs 6.4 vs 6.7 m/s; P=0.002) in patients with normal carotid IMT.
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