Patterns of estimated vascular age versus chronological age on pulse wave velocity in older adults

Tóm tắt

Background

As an objective assessment of arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity (PWV) is frequently used to define arterial stiffness in ageing. However, the extent to which calculated estimates of vascular age correlate with PWV, in the presence of chronological ageing, is unknown. Using PWV, a centrally obtained measure of arterial stiffness, we investigated patterns between Framingham-derived estimates of vascular age and chronological age.

Methods

Participants without cardiovascular disease (CVD) from a community-based cohort had their clinical risk factors collected prospectively, which derived estimates of Framingham-derived vascular age. PWV (m/s) was measured using a cuff-based oscillometric pulse wave analysis machine.

Results

This analysis consisted of n=202 participants (46.0% women). The mean chronological age of the participants were 70.2 ± 8.8 years, while mean estimated vascular age was 80.6±11.35 years. mean PWV was 9.86±2.61. Determinants of PWV in this cohort were chronological age (β =0.087, 95% CI 0.041-0.134, p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (β =1.14, 95% CI 0.049-2.233, p=0.041). Estimated vascular age was associated with PWV (β =0.061, 95% CI 0.02-0.102, p=0.004, adjusted for diabetes mellitus. Although chronological age correlated with estimated vascular age (r=0.842, p<0.001)  (Figure 1a), estimated vascular age overestimated chronological age in some participants. However, despite significant associations between chronological age, estimated vascular age and PWV, chronological age in this cohort were represented across a spread of PWV values (Figure 1b). Participants with low to moderate PWV values were over-estimated by vascular age (Figure 1c).

Conclusion

While chronological age and pulse wave velocity may be associated, advancing age is not synonymous with higher arterial stiffness. Estimated vascular age may overestimate chronological age and pulse wave velocity.