Association between measurements of arterial stiffness and target organ damage in a general Spanish population

Ann Med. 2021 Dec;53(1):345-356. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1881812.

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about the relationship between arterial stiffness and cardiovascular target organ damage (TOD) in the general population. The aim was to analyse the relationship between different measurements of arterial stiffness and TOD, in a general Spanish population without a history of cardiovascular event.

Materials and methods: Transversal descriptive study. Through stratified random sampling, a total of 501 individuals were included. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) was measured using a SphygmoCor System®, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was determined with aVasera VS-1500® and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV)was calculated through a validated equation.

Results: The average age was 55.84 ± 14.26.The percentage of vascular TOD, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and renal TOD was higher in men (p < .001). A positive correlation was obtained between carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) and the measurements of vascular function. In the model 1 of the logistic regression analysis, cf-PWV was associated with vascular TOD (OR = 1.15, p = .040), ba-PWV was associated with vascular TOD (OR = 1.20, p = .010) and LVH (OR = 1.12, p = .047).

Conclusions: The different measurements of arterial stiffness are highly associated with each other. Moreover, cf-PWV and ba-PWV were associated with vascular TOD, and ba-PWV with LVH, although they disappear when adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. Key Messages There is a strong correlation between the different measurements of vascular structure and function. Carotid-femoral and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were positively associated with vascular target organ damage, the latter was also positively associated with left ventricular hypertrophy. This associations disappear when adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords: Vascular stiffness; target organ damage; vascular function; vascular structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure Determination
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
  • Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnosis
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / epidemiology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Organ Failure / diagnosis
  • Multiple Organ Failure / epidemiology*
  • Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
  • Organ Dysfunction Scores*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Vascular Stiffness*

Grants and funding

The project was funded by the Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), the Carlos III Health Institute of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Spain) through the network of preventive activities and promotion of health in primary care [redIAPP, RD16/0007/0003] and the Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Cardiovascular Diseases [CIBERCV, CB16/11/00374], co-financed with European regional development funds (FEDER), and by the Autonomous Government of Castile and Leon, with projects GRS 1193/B/15 and GRS 1821/B/18 and the research activity intensification programme [INT/M/08/19, INT/M/9/19 and INT/M/14/19]. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Cardiovasculares;Instituto de Salud Carlos III.