Ascending Aortic Elasticity and Related Risk Factors Study on Prehypertension Patients

BACKGROUND: A new feature of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is to estimate ascending aortic elasticity without additional cost, but its applicable benefit for prehypertension patients is still unclear. The aim of this study is to discuss the characteristic of ascending aortic elasticity for specific prehypertension patients and its risk factors. METHODS: Coronary CTA examinations of 398 participants were performed using a 128 slicer CT scanner. The differences of 3 ascending aortic elasticity related indices, including aortic distensibility (AD), aortic compliance (AC), and aortic stiffness (ASI), and anatomical measurements were analyzed among the normal, prehypertension, and primary hypertension groups. RESULTS: No difference was found for normalized minimum cross-sectional diameter and area for the ascending aorta between prehypertension and normal groups. AD, AC, and ASI were significantly different in 3 groups. Between prehypertension and normal groups, AD and AC were found much smaller but no difference were found for ASI; while between prehypertension and hypertension groups, significant differences were found in AD and ASI, and AC was found to a lesser extent. Risk factor study for prehypertension patients indicated that age and systolic pressure were the independent risk factors for AD decline. CONCLUSION: As a byproduct, coronary CTA can provide multiple aortic elasticity related indices for the prehypertension patients, without additional contrast media consumption and radiation dose. It is proofed that the early detection of ascending aortic elasticity index changes, especially for AD are essential for identifying the high-risk individuals in the prehypertension populations. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Our public trials registry number ChiCTR-RIC-15007482.