Lipoprotein(a) and Peripheral Artery Disease as Independent Predictors of Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Hypertension: A Single‐Center Cross‐Sectional Study

Figures

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  FIGURE 1. Association between lipoprotein(a) concentration and carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity. Scatter plot showing the relationship between continuous lipoprotein(a) concentration and carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity. Each point represents an individual participant (n = 366). The fitted line illustrates the overall positive association. The correlation was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ = 0.410; < 0.001). cfPWV, carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity; Lp(a), lipoprotein(a).

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  FIGURE 2. Receiver‐operating‐characteristic analysis of lipoprotein(a) for high arterial stiffness. Receiver‐operating‐characteristic curve showing the performance of lipoprotein(a) for identifying high arterial stiffness, defined as carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity ≥10 m/s. The area under the curve was 0.64 (95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.70; < 0.001). The optimal threshold derived from the Youden index was approximately 0.77 g/L (sensitivity 49.5%, specificity 74.2%). AUC, area under the curve; cfPWV, carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity; Lp(a), lipoprotein(a); ROC, receiver‐operating characteristic.

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  FIGURE 3. Subgroup analyses of the association between lipoprotein(a) and carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity. Forest plot showing adjusted regression coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals for the association between lipoprotein(a) tertile 3 and carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity compared with tertile 1 across prespecified subgroups. Estimates were derived from robust linear regression models adjusted for covariates included in the primary multivariable model, excluding the stratification variable where appropriate. The association remained directionally consistent across subgroups defined by age, sex, and 24‐h blood‐pressure control status. β, regression coefficient; BP, blood pressure; cfPWV, carotid–femoral pulse‐wave velocity; CI, confidence interval; Lp(a), lipoprotein(a).