Effects of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors on Vascular Age and Subsequent Change

Background: Arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and is associated with atherosclerotic risk factors. The effects of atherosclerotic risk factors on vascular age and subsequent change were investigated in patients scored according to the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). Methods: Patients comprised 181 men and 116 women scored according to the CAVI twice at our center. All were divided into the following 3 groups based on vascular age as evaluated according their CAVI score: low vascular age (LVA); equivalent vascular age (EVA); or high vascular age (HVA). They were then divided into the following 3 groups by comparing vascular age evaluated one year later with that obtained at the initial evaluation: change upward; no change; or change downward. The mean values of atherosclerotic risk factors and changes were compared among each group. Atherosclerotic risk factors comprised atherosclerosis-related diseases (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes), age, height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) score, abdominal circumference, Risk Factor (RF) score (number of atherosclerotic risk factors), metabolic score (propensity to metabolic syndrome), blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, and smoking score. Results: In men, the LVA group showed a lower RF score, metabolic score, BP, FBS, and HbA1c, and a higher HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) score. Vascular age changed upward with increasing HDL-C and downward with increasing abdominal circumference. In women, the LVA group showed a higher BMI score. Conclusions: The effects of atherosclerotic risk factors on vascular age were greater in men. In women, the BMI score was associated with vascular age.