Key result
Aortic stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, was significantly higher in older adults reporting any problem on the EQ-5D index compared to those without problems (12.6 vs 12.2 m/s, p=0.024).
Why the study?
Aortic stiffness is linked to cardiovascular events and mortality in older adults and might influence health-related quality of life via cognitive and physical morbidity, but its association in individuals aged 75 and older needed investigation.
Is aortic stiffness associated with impaired health-related quality of life in people aged 75 years and over?
Cross-Sectional (n=280)
Yes
Is aortic stiffness associated with impaired health-related quality of life in people aged 75 years and over?
Absolute Event Rate: 12.6% vs 12.2%
p-value: p=0.024
Aortic stiffness, as measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, is associated with impaired health-related quality of life in older adults.
May link aortic stiffness to impaired HRQOL in adults ≥75; hypothesis-generating and requires longitudinal studies before clinical relevance.
PURPOSE: Aortic stiffness (AS) is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in the older population. AS might also influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a result of the negative effects of AS on cognitive and physical morbidity. We aimed to investigate the possible association between AS and HRQOL in people aged 75 years and over. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was part of the SCOPE study, an international multicenter cohort observational study. The indicators for AS were aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and central pulse pressure (cPP). HRQOL was assessed using the EQ-5D index and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS). ANCOVA and multivariate regression models were used to investigate possible associations. RESULTS: We included 280 Dutch participants of the SCOPE study. Median age was 79 years (IQR 76-83) and 42.1% were women. Participants reporting any problem on the EQ-5D index (n=214) had higher values of aPWV (12.6 vs 12.2 m/s, p = 0.024) than participants not experiencing any problem (n=66) and comparable values of cPP (44.4 vs 42.0 mmHg, p = 0.119). Estimates only slightly changed after adjustments. No association was found between indicators of AS and EQ-5D VAS. CONCLUSION: Aortic stiffness was associated with impaired quality of late life. This association could be mediated by subclinical vascular pathology affecting mental and physical health.
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Tap et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Older adults (n=280). Aortic stiffness vs. Lower aortic stiffness was evaluated on Any problem on the EQ-5D index (p=0.024). Aortic stiffness, measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, was significantly higher in older adults reporting any problem on the EQ-5D index compared to those without problems (12.6 vs 12.2 m/s, p=0.024).
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