Key result
Female sex (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.9-4.8), younger age, and never-smoking were among the traditional risk factors independently associated with a favorable subclinical vascular disease profile.
Observational (n=1,824)
Odds Ratio: 3 (95% CI 1.9–4.8)
Favorable levels of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as lower BMI, absence of hypertension, and never-smoking, are associated with successful cardiovascular aging as measured by subclinical vascular markers.
Associations with favorable vascular profiles support risk factor focus but remain hypothesis-generating; prospective studies needed before clinical adoption.
Coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and reduced ankle brachial indices (ABI) are markers of subclinical vascular disease strongly associated with aging. The authors identified factors associated with low levels of subclinical vascular disease in 1824 participants 70 years and older in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. A total of 452 had low CAC (<25th percentile), 441 had low CIMT (<25th percentile), 1636 had normal ABI (>0.9), and 165 had a combination index indicating favorable values for all 3 parameters. This combination index was independently associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 2.5 per 1 SD [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.8-3.6]), female sex (OR 3.0 [95% CI, 1.9-4.8]), lower body mass index (OR 1.6 per 1 SD [95% CI, 1.2-2.0]), absence of hypertension (OR 1.8 [95% CI, 1.2-2.6]), absence of dyslipidemia (OR 1.6 [95% CI, 1.04-2.4]), and never-smoking (OR 1.7 [95% CI, 1.1-2.6]). No significant associations were observed for C-reactive protein, education, diet, or physical activity. Favorable levels of multiple traditional risk factors, but not several novel risk factors, were associated with subclinical markers of successful cardiovascular aging.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Michos et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Subclinical vascular disease (n=1,824). Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on Combination index indicating favorable values for CAC, CIMT, and ABI (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.9-4.8). Female sex (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.9-4.8), younger age, and never-smoking were among the traditional risk factors independently associated with a favorable subclinical vascular disease profile.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: