[Estimation of the "vascular age" based on body mass index in a population in primary prevention. Association with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis]

Abstract

Background and objectives: To know the relationship between "vascular age" (VA) and the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis could improve cardiovascular risk stratification.

Objectives: 1) to know the VA in a primary prevention population, and 2) to determine the relationship between VA and the presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP).

Patients and methods: We calculated VA based on body mass index (BMI). We obtained the difference between VA and chronological age (Delta). The screening of CAP was done by ultrasound. We analyzed the association between quintiles of VA and Delta with the presence of CAP. ROC analysis was performed.

Results: In total, 411 patients were included (age 47 [10] years, 54% men). The VA and Delta were 55 (15) and 7 (9) years respectively. In 75% of the patients VA was higher than the chronological age (50%≥ 6 years). Subjects with CAP had significantly higher VA (66 [11] versus 50 [14] years, P<.0001) and Delta (13 [9] versus 5 [7] years, P<.0001) than subjects without CAP. We observed a positive association of quintiles of VA and Delta with the prevalence of CAP. The area under de curve and the optimal cutoff point of VA for the detection of CAP were 0.813 and 60 years, respectively, and for Delta, 0,771 and 11 years, respectively.

Conclusions: The VA based on BMI could be a simple tool to estimate the presence of CAP and improve cardiovascular risk stratification in patients in primary prevention.