Abstract
Background:
Information on the associations among arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaques as biomarkers of atherosclerosis is limited. We aimed to assess whether aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) - as a surrogate of arterial stiffness - is associated with increased cIMT and the presence of carotid plaques in a cohort of older adults of Amerindian ancestry.
Methods:
Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years (n=320) underwent aortic PWV determinations, and carotid ultrasound for cIMT and plaque assessment. Multivariate models were fitted to assess the independent association between the aortic PWV, and cIMT and carotid plaques (as dependent variables), after adjusting for relevant confounders. Differences in risk factors across these biomarkers were investigated.
Results:
Mean values of aortic PWV were 10.3±1.8 m/s, and those of cIMT were 0.91±0.21 mm (24% had a cIMT >1 mm). Carotid plaques were observed in 118 (37%) subjects. In univariate analyses, risk factors associated with an increased aortic PWV included age, female gender, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. An increased cIMT was associated with age, male gender, poor diet, high blood pressure and severe edentulism. The presence of carotid plaques was associated with increasing age, poor physical activity and high blood pressure. A fully-adjusted generalized linear model showed a significant association between aortic PWV and cIMT (β: 0.028; 95% C.I.: 0.001 - 0.056;
p
=0.047). In contrast, a logistic regression model showed no association between aortic PWV and carotid plaques (OR: 1.14; 95% C.I.: 0.83 - 1.56;
p
=0.423), after adjusting for relevant confounders.
Conclusions:
This study shows an independent association between aortic PWV and cIMT but not with carotid plaques. These biomarkers may indicate distinct phenotypes for atherosclerosis.