Associations between Multiple Health Indicators and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in A Healthy and Active Elderly Population

Robin Pfister; Rajneesh Kaur; Gary Maesom; Ronald L Hager

doi:10.3390/jcdd11040101

Associations between Multiple Health Indicators and Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in A Healthy and Active Elderly Population

J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2024 Mar 28;11(4):101. doi: 10.3390/jcdd11040101.

Authors

Robin Pfister¹, Rajneesh Kaur¹, Gary Maesom², Ronald L Hager³

Affiliations

¹ Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, City Rd, Level 2 & 3, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia.
² Department of Nursing/Health Professions, Utah Valley University, 800 West University Parkway, Orem, UT 84058, USA.
³ Department of Exercise Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between health indicators (age, BMI, blood pressure (BP), functional strength (FS), handgrip strength, and predicted VO₂ max) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in an active 50 years+ population. Study participants' mean cIMT was also compared to the cIMT mean of the general population. Health screenings were conducted on 1818 participants at the Huntsman World Senior Games from 2016 to 2019. Pearson's correlations, Spearman's correlations, and ANOVA were performed using SPSS. Weak but significant correlations were evident between cIMT and age (r = 0.283, p < 0.001), systolic BP (r = 0.253, p = 0.001), diastolic BP (r = 0.074, p = 0.016), weight (r = 0.170, p < 0.001), height (r = 0.153, p < 0.001), handgrip L (r = 0.132, p < 0.001), handgrip R (r = 0.074, p < 0.029), and BMI (r = 0.07, p = 0.029); non-significant correlations were evident with predicted VO₂ max (r = -0.035, p = 0.382), and FS (r = -0.025, p = 0.597). When controlling for age, systolic BP, and sex, only handgrip L (r = 0.225, p = 0.014) was significantly correlated with cIMT. Mean cIMT for this cohort was lower across all sexes and age-matched groups (cIMT = 0.6967 mm (±0.129)). Physical activity is linked to reduced cIMT. Most health-related indicators in this study were significantly but weakly correlated with cIMT. Additional research is needed before common indicators can be used as a surrogate for cIMT and CVD risk. Results from this study can provide clinicians with additional information to reduce CVD risk through modifiable risk factors. Classic CVD risk factors such as systolic BP and BMI should be considered in patients regardless of lifestyle.

Keywords: aged; blood pressure; body mass index; cIMT; cardiorespiratory fitness; cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by the Brigham Young University regarding the costs incurred by data collectors, which were repaid. No other external financial support was received. Brigham Young University was otherwise not involved with the interpretation or writing of this manuscript.