Association of Impaired Vascular Endothelial Function with Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults

Abstract

Impaired vascular endothelial function has attracted attention as a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular prevention. The association between impaired endothelial function and cardiovascular risk in the asymptomatic population, however, has been poorly explored. We evaluated the association of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) with Framingham-estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in subjects free of CVD, especially by cardiovascular risk profiles. In total, 680 adults aged 30-74 years were enrolled from Rongan and Rongshui of Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, through a cross-sectional study in 2015. In the full-adjusted model, the odds ratio for the estimated 10-year CVD risk comparing the low FMD (<6%) with the high FMD (≥10%) was 2.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 6.53; P for trend = 0.03). In subgroup analyses, inverse associations between FMD and the estimated 10-year CVD risk were found in participants with specific characteristics. The adjusted odds ratios, comparing the 25th and the 75th percentiles of FMD, were 2.77 (95% CI: 1.54, 5.00) for aged ≥60 years, 1.77 (95% CI: 1.16, 2.70) for female, 1.59 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.35) for nonsmokers, 1.74 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.97) for hypertension, 1.59 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.44) for normal glycaemia, 2.03 (95% CI: 1.19, 3.48) for C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/L, and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.06) for eGFR <106 mL/minute per 1.73 m2. Therefore, impaired endothelial function is associated with increased CVD risk in asymptomatic adults. This inverse association is more likely to exist in subjects with higher cardiovascular risk.

Metabolic profiling reveals the heterogeneity of vascular endothelial function phenotypes in individuals at extreme cardiovascular risk

“…Furthermore, the altered metabolites were enriched in differential metabolic pathways, suggesting distinct metabolic patterns in response to a specic endothelial function status. Impaired endothelial function was associated with higher cardiovascular risk in asymptomatic adults, 20,21 which was mechanistically involved via pathological changes such as decreased NO synthesis, increased oxidative stress, and increased inammation. 22 Urea and glutamic acid, in arginine and proline metabolism, are connected to the ornithine cycle and the deamination of glutamic acid.…”

Sinapine Thiocyanate Ameliorates Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertension by Inhibiting Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

“…The vascular endothelia is composed of single flat cells lining the surface of the vascular lumen, which regulates vascular tension and maintains vascular structural stability ( Zhong et al, 2018 ). Endothelial dysfunction and/or structural damage may lead to increased systemic vascular resistance, which results in hypertension ( Perticone et al, 2010 ).…”

MicroRNA: An Emerging Predictive, Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Strategy in Ischaemic Stroke

“…Endothelial dysfunction is strongly associated with the future vascular diseases in asymptomatic adults. So, adding microvascular endothelial status to the FSRS may improve risk discrimination power (Flammer et al 2012;Prugger et al 2013;Zhong et al 2018). Since several miRNAs have been identified as crucial regulators of endothelial function, it is possible that they can also, individually or collectively, serve as potential predictors of future strokes in general population.…”