BackgroundChanges in the properties of large arteries correlate with higher cardiovascular
risk. Recent guidelines have included the assessment of those properties to detect
subclinical disease. Establishing reference values for the assessment methods as
well as determinants of the arterial parameters and their correlations in healthy
individuals is important to stratify patients.ObjectiveTo assess, in healthy adults, the distribution of the values of pulse wave
velocity, diameter, intima-media thickness and relative distensibility of the
carotid artery, in addition to assessing the demographic and clinical determinants
of those parameters and their correlations.MethodsThis study evaluated 210 individuals (54% women; mean age, 44 ± 13 years) with no
evidence of cardiovascular disease. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was
measured with a Complior® device. The functional and structural
properties of the carotid artery were assessed by using radiofrequency ultrasound.
ResultsThe means of the following parameters were: pulse wave velocity, 8.7 ± 1.5 m/s;
diameter, 6,707.9 ± 861.6 μm; intima-media thickness, 601 ± 131 μm; relative
distensibility, 5.3 ± 2.1%. No significant difference related to sex or ethnicity
was observed. On multiple linear logistic regression, the factors independently
related to the vascular parameters were: pulse wave velocity, to age (p < 0.01)
and triglycerides (p = 0.02); intima-media thickness, to age (p < 0.01);
diameter, to creatinine (p = 0.03) and age (p = 0.02); relative distensibility, to
age (p < 0.01) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.02 and p =
0.01, respectively). Pulse wave velocity showed a positive correlation with intima
media thickness (p < 0.01) and with relative distensibility (p < 0.01),
while diameter showed a positive correlation with distensibility (p = 0.03).ConclusionIn healthy individuals, age was the major factor related to aortic stiffness,
while age and diastolic blood pressure related to the carotid functional measure.
The carotid artery structure was directly related to aortic stiffness, which was
inversely related to the carotid artery functional property.
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