Arterial Stiffness Is Higher in People With Multiple Sclerosis Than in Control Group

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system with prevalent vascular comorbidities and associated vascular dysfunction involving arterial stiffness. This study examined the difference in arterial stiffness between people with MS and controls and whether the difference was accounted for by anxiety, depression, and walking endurance, variables not usually included in other studies of arterial stiffness in MS. Methods: The sample included 129 people with MS (age, 48.5 [10.8] years; 70.5% female; Expanded Disability Status Scale score median, 4) and 51 controls without MS (age, 48.7 [11.3] years; 78.4% female) who completed arterial stiffness, anxiety, and depression assessments and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results: There were significant differences between groups in arterial stiffness (P = .05; d = –.038), anxiety (P = .009; d = –0.438) and depressive symptoms (P < .001; d = –0.927), and walking endurance (P < .001; d = 1.618). The bivariate correlations were significant between arterial stiffness and age, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and 6MWT distance (all P < .05). The difference in arterial stiffness between groups remained when controlling for age, BMI, MAP, anxiety and depression symptoms, and 6MWT distance. Conclusions: Our results indicate that people with MS have higher levels of arterial stiffness compared with controls, but this difference is not explained by age, BMI, MAP, anxiety, depression, or walking endurance.