P8.01 Predictors of Aortic Stiffening in Elderly Subjects: Results of a Nine-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective

To investigate predictors of increase in aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) in elderly subjects free from overt cardiovascular disease.

Design and Method:

The present study included 90 lecture attendees (‘‘university of 3^rd age’’) who were examined at baseline and after a median follow-up of 9.5 years, including the aPWV measurement using Sphygmocor. At baseline, they were aged 66.9 ± 5.1 years, 80.0% were women, 37.8% of subjects had arterial hypertension, 5.6% diabetes mellitus, and 82.2% hyperlipidemia. We used multiple linear regression analyses to assess predictors of change in aPWV. As independent covariates we considered: sex, age, body mass index, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, smoking, alcohol intake and observer.

Results:

The aPWV increased from 9.4 to 10.3 m/s; P = 0.022. While accounting for covariates, aPWV increased significantly with three factors: a 1—standard deviation change in heart rate (8.5 bpm), in MAP (12.4 mm Hg) and in fasting glucose (0.93 mmol/l) were associated with increased aPWV amounting to 0.76 m/s (95% CI: 0.23 to 1.30; P = 0.0061), 0.71 m/s (95% CI: 0.20 to 1.23; P = 0.0079) and 0.57 m/s (95% CI: 0.08 to 1.07; P = 0.024), respectively.

Conclusions:

In elderly subjects without manifest cardiovascular disease, mechanical load, as demonstrated by the positive association with heart rate and MAP, plays a major role in the aortic stiffening. Among metabolic factors, glucose concentration but not lipid parameters is associated with increase in aortic stiffness, possible via glycation of connective tissue within arterial wall.