Aortic stiffness: current understanding and future directions. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;57:1511-1522. [PMID: 21453829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2010.12.017]

Alterations in aortic elasticity indices among type 2 diabetes patients in a low and middle income country using M-mode echocardiography: A cross-sectional comparative study

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of noncommunicable diseases worldwide. It is known to induce cardiovascular remodeling, which can result in a variety of complications, including a considerable increase in aortic stiffness. While studies in Western populations have explored these effects, data on Asians, mainly Vietnamese, are limited. This study aimed to assess aortic elasticity in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients compared to healthy individuals.

METHODS

This quantitative, cross-sectional study compared aortic elasticity indices between individuals with T2DM and healthy controls in Vietnam. Aortic elasticity indices were assessed for all participants using M-mode echocardiography.

RESULTS

A comparison between the healthy and T2DM groups revealed substantial differences in aortic elasticity indices. The aortic stiffness index (ASI) was significantly greater in the T2DM group than in the control group, with median values of 6.10 (3.64-12.47) and 3.79 (2.40-8.50), respectively (p = 0.003). Aortic strain (AS) was substantially lower in the T2DM group than in the control group, with median values of 8.21% (4.24-13.07) and 10.66% (6.01-18.23), respectively (p = 0.039). Furthermore, the median aortic compliance (AC, 10-2mm/mmHg) and aortic distensibility (AD, 10-3mmHg-1) in individuals with T2DM were 4.07 (2.28-7.44) and 3.08 (1.57-5.26), respectively, lower than those in the control group, with median values of 6.40 (3.08-10.75) and 5.33 (2.80-9.79). A longer diabetes duration was linked to a greater ASI (r = 0.43, p < 0.05), while the AS decreased (r = -0.37, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial variations in aorta elasticity indices were found in patients with T2DM using M-mode echocardiography. These differences highlight the impact of T2DM on vascular health. More research is needed to investigate the consequences of these discrepancies and their significance for clinical purposes.

The correlation between mental health and arterial stiffness in Chinese population

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between mental health status and arterial stiffness. A Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) score was conducted for 10,688 employees of Kailuan Group Co., Ltd., of which 4936 participants received baPWV measurement. Of these, 4424 met the inclusion criteria. Based on the SCL-90 score, the study subjects were divided into normal mental health group (SCL-90 score < 160, 3993 cases) and abnormal mental health group (SCL-90 score ≥ 160, 431 cases). Statistical indicators include: General information, including levels of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), age, gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption, daily activity levels, nature of work and educational qualifications. The proportion of males, baPWV value, and abnormal proportion of baPWV in normal mental health group were higher than those in abnormal mental health group (P < 0.05). The Hs-CRP in normal mental health group were lower than that in abnormal mental health group (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in activity level and educational attainment between the two groups (P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, the results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that, Age, MAP, HR, FBG, TG were positively correlated with baPWV; SCL-90 score, gender, BMI, educational qualification were negatively correlated with baPWV. When the SCL-90 score of the general population increased by one point, baPWV decreased by 0.246 cm/s. Each such increase corresponded with a decrease in baPWV of 0.299 cm/s for male participants in general (β =  - 0.299, P = 0.007) and 0.412 cm/s for the male participants in the older-age group (β =  - 0.412, P = 0.017). Although adverse psychological factors have a certain impact on arterial stiffness, it does not constitute an independent risk factor.

Enhancing cardiovascular health monitoring: Simultaneous multi-artery cardiac markers recording with flexible and bio-compatible AlN piezoelectric sensors

Continuous monitoring of cardiovascular parameters like pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure wave (BPW), stiffness index (SI), reflection index (RI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has significant clinical importance for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Standard approaches, including echocardiography, impedance cardiography, or hemodynamic monitoring, are hindered by expensive and bulky apparatus and accessibility only in specialized facilities. Moreover, noninvasive techniques like sphygmomanometry, electrocardiography, and arterial tonometry often lack accuracy due to external electrical interferences, artifacts produced by unreliable electrode contacts, misreading from placement errors, or failure in detecting transient issues and trends. Here, we report a bio-compatible, flexible, noninvasive, low-cost piezoelectric sensor for continuous and real-time cardiovascular monitoring. The sensor, utilizing a thin aluminum nitride film on a flexible Kapton substrate, is used to extract heart rate, blood pressure waves, pulse wave velocities, and cardio-ankle vascular index from four arterial pulse sites: carotid, brachial, radial, and posterior tibial arteries. This simultaneous recording, for the first time in the same experiment, allows to provide a comprehensive cardiovascular patient's health profile. In a test with a 28-year-old male subject, the sensor yielded the SI = 7.1 ± 0.2 m/s, RI = 54.4 ± 0.5 %, MAP = 86.2 ± 1.5 mmHg, CAVI = 7.8 ± 0.2, and seven PWVs from the combination of the four different arterial positions, in good agreement with the typical values reported in the literature. These findings make the proposed technology a powerful tool to facilitate personalized medical diagnosis in preventing CVDs.

Association of the Mediterranean diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation, and medication use in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: An exploratory study

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) face increased cardiovascular risk not fully explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Arterial stiffness, inflammation and disease-related therapies may be contributors to augmented cardiovascular risk, whereas healthy dietary habits could help in their management. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation, and disease-related medication in women with SLE. A total of 76 women with SLE were included in this cross-sectional exploratory study. The adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Score. Arterial stiffness was measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV). Inflammatory profile was evaluated through high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The use (yes / no) and doses (mg /day and cumulative dose over the last 3 years) of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants were also registered. No association of the overall adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with PWV, hsCRP or medication use was found (all P>.05). Lower intake of full dairy products was related to greater odds of corticosteroids use (odds=1.72; P=.004), and both higher current (β=0.29; P=.024) and cumulative (β=0.21; P=.040) doses. Lower intake of red wine was associated with lower odds of immunosuppressants use (odds=0.63; P=.008). No association of the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with arterial stiffness, inflammation or disease-related medication was observed in women with SLE with mild disease activity. However, higher dairy products and lower red wine consumption were related to lower use of disease-related medication. Future intervention studies are needed to better understand how nutritional education promoting Mediterranean Diet food groups can complement conventional SLE treatments.

Differences Between Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity and Lower Leg Circumference Ratio in Patients With and Without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Vascular endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients causes atherosclerosis and microvascular damage. This study investigated the relationship between leg circumference and arterial stiffness in patients with T2DM compared to non-T2DM individuals. Methods Data from two studies were combined to form T2DM (T2DM group) and non-T2DM (N group) cohorts. The variables included age, sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), ankle-brachial index, height, weight, maximum leg circumference, lower leg circumference ratio, duration of T2DM, Achilles tendon reflex disorder, and the hemoglobin A1c level. Multiple regression analysis was performed with ba-PWV as the dependent variable and the interaction term between leg circumference ratio and T2DM as the independent variable. The control variables included leg circumference ratio, T2DM, SBP, Achilles tendon reflex disorder, age, and sex. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for the statistical analysis, with the significance level set to p < 0.05. Results The interaction term between the lower leg circumference ratio and T2DM (β = -0.17, 95% CI: -46.11 to -10.92; p < 0.01) was significantly associated with ba-PWV (AdjR² = 0.51, variance inflation factor <4.12). Simple slope analysis indicated that a decreased lower leg circumference ratio was significantly associated with an increased ba-PWV (β = -0.20, p < 0.05) in the T2DM group. No significant relationship was found in the N group (β = -0.03, p = 0.69). Conclusion A significant interaction was found between the lower leg circumference ratio and T2DM presence, indicating an association between ba-PWV and the leg circumference ratio specific to patients with T2DM. This result suggests that the leg circumference ratio can be substituted for the ba-PWV to evaluate arterial stiffness in T2DM.

Evaluation of Carotid Stiffness in Metabolic Syndrome by Real-Time Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging and Ultrafast Pulse Wave Velocity

OBJECTIVE

This study utilized real-time shear wave elasticity imaging (SWE) and ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) to assess carotid arterial stiffness, aiming to predict atherosclerosis risk in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODS

In this study, 181 patients with metabolic syndrome (MS group) were compared with 73 healthy adults. The MS group was divided into three groups: MS I group: CIMT was normal (CIMT < 1.0 mm, no plaque, n = 61); MS II group: CIMT thickening (1.0 mm ≤ CIMT<1.5 mm, no plaque, n = 39); MS III group: plaque group (CIMT ≥ 1.5 mm, plaque, n = 81). Concurrently, the group of 73 healthy individuals was designated as the control set (NC). Parameters assessed include carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), elastic modulus values of the carotid artery's anterior and posterior walls (Mean, Max, Min), pulse wave velocity at systole's commencement (PWV-BS), and pulse wave velocity at systole's termination (PWV-ES). Differences, distribution characteristics, and correlations across these groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

A significant association was found between PWV-BS, PWV-ES, and arteriosclerosis severity, with these factors gaining importance as arteriosclerosis progressed. Notably, PWV-ES differences were significant across the four groups (p < 0.05). Both MS III and MS II groups exhibited higher PWV-ES values compared to the MS I group and controls. Statistically significant differences were observed between MS III, MS II, and MS I groups relative to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the Mean, Max, and Min values of the anterior and posterior carotid walls in the MS III group surpassed those of the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Real-time shear wave elasticity imaging and ultrafast pulse wave velocity are valuable tools for assessing atherosclerosis risk in MS patients. These non-invasive, safe, and reproducible imaging techniques can quantitatively evaluate the stiffness of the common carotid artery's wall, offering important insights into cardiovascular risk assessment.

Static and dynamic analysis of cerebral blood flow in fifty-six large arterial vessel networks

Objective.The cerebral vasculature is formed of an intricate network of blood vessels over many different length scales. Changes in their structure and connection are implicated in multiple cerebrovascular and neurological disorders. In this study, we present a novel approach to the quantitative analysis of the cerebral macrovasculature using computational and mathematical tools in a large dataset.Approach.We analysed a publicly available vessel dataset from a cohort of 56 (32/24F/M) healthy subjects. This dataset includes digital reconstructions of human brain macrovasculatures. We then propose a new mathematical model to compute blood flow dynamics and pressure distributions within these 56-representative cerebral macrovasculatures and quantify the results across this cohort.Main results.Statistical analysis showed that the steady state level of cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) gradually increases with age in both men and women. These age-related changes in CVR are in good agreement with previously reported values. All subjects were found to have only small phase angles (<6°) between blood pressure and blood flow at the cardiac frequency.Significance.These results showed that the dynamic component of blood flow adds very little phase shift at the cardiac frequency, which implies that the cerebral macrocirculation can be regarded as close to steady state in its behaviour, at least in healthy populations, irrespective of age or sex. This implies that the phase shift observed in measurements of blood flow in cerebral vessels is caused by behaviour further down the vascular bed. This behaviour is important for future statistical models of the dynamic maintenance of oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain.

An Increase in Vascular Stiffness Is Positively Associated With Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Impairment of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in the Older Adults

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a noninvasive parameter reflecting vascular stiffness. CAVI correlates with the burden of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events. Mitochondria of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) have been identified as a noninvasive source for assessing systemic mitochondrial bioenergetics. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CAVI values and mitochondrial bioenergetics of PBMCs in the older adults.. This cross-sectional study enrolled participants from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand between 2017 and 2018. A total of 1 640 participants with an ankle-brachial index greater than 0.9 were included in this study. All participants were stratified into 3 groups based on their CAVI values as high (CAVI ≥ 9), moderate (9 > CAVI ≥ 8), and low (CAVI < 8), in which each group comprised 702, 507, and 431 participants, respectively. The extracellular flux analyzer was used to measure mitochondrial respiration of isolated PBMCs. The mean age of the participants was 67.9 years, and 69.6% of them were male. After adjusted with potential confounders including age, sex, smoking status, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and creatinine clearance, participants with high CAVI values were independently associated with impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics, including decreased basal respiration, maximal respiration, and spare respiratory capacity, as well as increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. This study demonstrated that CAVI measurement reflects the underlying impairment of cellular mitochondrial bioenergetics in PBMCs. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to establish both a causal relationship between CAVI measurement and underlying cellular dysfunction.

Increased vascular smooth muscle cell senescence in aneurysmal Fibulin-4 mutant mice

Aortic aneurysms are dilatations of the aorta that can rupture when left untreated. We used the aneurysmal Fibulin-4R/R mouse model to further unravel the underlying mechanisms of aneurysm formation. RNA sequencing of 3-month-old Fibulin-4R/R aortas revealed significant upregulation of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors and key senescence factors, indicating the involvement of senescence. Analysis of aorta histology and of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro confirmed the senescent phenotype of Fibulin-4R/R VSMCs by revealing increased SA-β-gal, p21, and p16 staining, increased IL-6 secretion, increased presence of DNA damage foci and increased nuclei size. Additionally, we found that p21 luminescence was increased in the dilated aorta of Fibulin-4R/R|p21-luciferase mice. Our studies identify a cellular aging cascade in Fibulin-4 aneurysmal disease, by revealing that Fibulin-4R/R aortic VSMCs have a pronounced SASP and a senescent phenotype that may underlie aortic wall degeneration. Additionally, we demonstrated the therapeutic effect of JAK/STAT and TGF-β pathway inhibition, as well as senolytic treatment on Fibulin-4R/R VSMCs in vitro. These findings can contribute to improved therapeutic options for aneurysmal disease aimed at reducing senescent cells.

Arterial Stiffness and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is prevalent and associated with a poor prognosis, imposing a significant burden on society. Arterial stiffness is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of HFpEF, affecting diagnosis, management, and prognosis. As a hallmark of vascular aging, arterial stiffness contributes to increased afterload on the left ventricle (LV), leading to diastolic dysfunction, a key feature of HFpEF. Elevated arterial stiffness is linked with common cardiovascular risk factors in HFpEF, such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity, exacerbating the progression of disease. Studies have demonstrated that patients with HFpEF exhibit significantly higher levels of arterial stiffness compared to those without HFpEF, highlighting the value of arterial stiffness measurements as both diagnostic and prognostic tools. Moreover, interventions aimed at reducing arterial stiffness, whether through pharmacological therapies or lifestyle modifications, have shown potential in improving LV diastolic function and patient outcomes. Despite these advancements, the precise mechanisms by which arterial stiffness contributes to HFpEF are still not fully understood, necessitating the need for further research.

Long-term prognostic implications of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective

The long-term clinical effect of arterial stiffness in high-risk disease entities remains unclear. The prognostic implications of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were assessed using a real-world registry that included patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV before discharge. The primary outcome was net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE: a composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke), and major bleeding. The outcomes were assessed over a 4-year period.

Results

Patients (n = 3,930) were stratified into high- and low-baPWV groups based on a baPWV cut-off of 1891 cm/s determined through time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. baPWV was linearly correlated with 4-year post-PCI clinical events. The high baPWV group had a greater cumulative incidence of NACE, MACCE, and major bleeding. According to multivariable analysis, the high baPWV groups had a significantly greater risk of 4-year NACE (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj]: 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.85; p = 0.004), MACCE (HRadj: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.07-1.83; p = 0.015), and major bleeding (HRadj: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.15-3.25; p = 0.012).

Conclusion

In PCI-treated patients, baPWV was significantly associated with long-term clinical outcomes, including ischemic and bleeding events, indicating its value for identifying high-risk phenotypes.

Estimated pulse wave velocity predicts mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

OBJECTIVE

Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV), a newly established arterial stiffness (AS) parameter, predicts the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in the general population or in patients with CVD risk factors. However, whether ePWV is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients remains unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of ePWV on clinical outcomes in HFpEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed HFpEF participants from the Americas in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial with available baseline data (n = 1764). Cox proportional hazard model was used to explore the prognostic value of ePWV on long-term clinical outcomes (all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and heart failure hospitalization). Each ePWV increase by 1 m/s increased the risk for all-cause death by 16% (HR:1.16; 95% CI:1.10-1.23; P < 0.001) and CVD mortality by 13% (HR:1.13; 95% CI:1.04-1.21; P = 0.002) after adjusting for confounders. Patients were then grouped into 4 quartiles of ePWV. Our study indicated that the highest ePWV quartile (ePWV ≥ 12.806 m/s) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.43-2.69; P < 0.001) and CVD mortality (HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.16-2.56; P = 0.008) after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested ePWV is independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in HFpEF patients, indicating ePWV is an appropriate predictor of prognosis in patients with HFpEF.

Plasma Metabolome Predicts Aortic Stiffness and Future Risk of Coronary Artery Disease and Mortality After 23 Years of Follow-Up in the General Population

BACKGROUND

Increased aortic stiffness (arteriosclerosis) is associated with early vascular aging independent of age and sex. The underlying mechanisms of early vascular aging remain largely unexplored in the general population. We aimed to investigate the plasma metabolomic profile in aortic stiffness (vascular aging) and associated risk of incident cardiovascular disease and mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 6865 individuals from 2 Swedish population-based cohorts. Untargeted plasma metabolomics was performed by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry. Aortic stiffness was assessed directly by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and indirectly by augmentation index (AIx@75). A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was created on plasma metabolites in order to predict aortic stiffness. Associations between metabolite-predicted aortic stiffness and risk of new-onset cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality were calculated. Metabolite-predicted aortic stiffness (PWV and AIx@75) was positively associated particularly with acylcarnitines, dimethylguanidino valeric acid, glutamate, and cystine. The plasma metabolome predicted aortic stiffness (PWV and AIx@75) with good accuracy (R2=0.27 and R2=0.39, respectively). Metabolite-predicted aortic stiffness (PWV and AIx@75) was significantly correlated with age, sex, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, and low-density lipoprotein. After 23 years of follow-up, metabolite-predicted aortic stiffness (PWV and AIx@75) was significantly associated with increased risk of new-onset coronary artery disease, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic stiffness is associated particularly with altered metabolism of acylcarnitines, cystine, and dimethylguanidino valeric acid. These metabolic disturbances predict increased risk of new-onset coronary artery disease, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality after more than 23 years of follow-up in the general population.

Asprosin aggravates atherosclerosis via regulating the phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Asprosin is a newly discovered adipokine, which is critical in regulating metabolism. However, the relationship between asprosin and phenotype transformation of VSMCs in atherosclerosis remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether asprosin affects the progression of atherosclerosis by inducing phenotype transformation of VSMCs. We established an atherosclerosis model in ApoE-/- mice and administered asprosin recombinant protein and asprosin antibody to mice. Knocking down asprosin was also as an intervention. Interestingly, we found a correlation between asprosin levels and atherosclerosis. Asprosin promoted plaque formation and phenotype transformation of VSMCs. While, AspKD or asprosin antibody reduced the plaque lesion and suppressed vascular stiffness in ApoE-/- mice. Mechanistically, asprosin induced phenotype transformation of MOVAs by binding to GPR54, leading to Gαq/11 recruitment and activation of the PLC-PKC-ERK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway. Si GPR54 or GPR54 antagonist partially inhibited the action of asprosin in MOVAs. Mutant GPR54-(267, 307) residue cancelled the binding of asprosin and GPR54. In summary, this study confirmed asprosin activated GPR54/Gαq/11-dependent ERK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby promoting VSMCs phenotype transformation and aggravating atherosclerosis, thus providing a new target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Effects of high-intensity interval exercise on arterial stiffness in individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis

Objective

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on arterial stiffness (AS) and vascular function in persons at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Ebsco) since their inception through October 2023 to evaluate the effect of HIIT on AS and vascular function in persons at high risk for CVD. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test.

Results

This study included 661 participants from 16 studies. HIIT significantly reduced pulse wave velocity (PWV) in persons at high risk for CVD [weighted mean difference (WMD), -0.62; 95% CI, -0.86--0.38; P < 0.00001]. Subgroup analysis showed that the PWV improvement effect was better when the HIIT program was performed 2-3 times per week and the duration was controlled within 40 min [2-3 times, -0.67; 95% CI, -0.93--0.41; P < 0.00001; time of duration, ≤40 min, -0.66; 95% CI, -0.91--0.41; P < 0.00001]. HIIT significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP, -5.43; 95% CI, -8.82--2.04; P = 0.002), diastolic blood pressure (DPB, -2.96; 95% CI, -4.88--1.04; P = 0.002), and resting heart rate (RHR, -4.35; 95% CI, -7.04--1.66; P = 0.002), but had no significant effect on augmentation index (AIX, -2.14; 95% CI, -6.77-2.50; P = 0.37).

Conclusion

HIIT can improve PWV in high-risk individuals with CVD and reduce SBP, DBP, and RHR, but has no significant effect on AIX. HIIT can effectively improve AS and vascular function and can be recommended as an effective method to improve AS in high-risk persons with CVD.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42023471593.

Association between six different types of anthropometric indices and arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hypertensive Chinese adults

Background

The associations of body fat parameters with arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients were scarce.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed 4322 hypertensive adults. The correlations between the anthropometric indexes (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, waist-tohip ratio [WHR], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], a body shape index [ABSI], body round index [BRI]) and ba-PWV values were analyzed using multivariable linear regression model.

Results

In both sex categories, linear regression models showed that BMI levels were inversely related to baPWV (adjusted-β per SD increase in male: -0.51, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.36, P < 0.001; female: -0.50, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.37, P < 0.001). Waist circumference positively correlated with baPWV only in male hypertensive individuals. BaPWV positively correlated to WHR or WHtR levels (adjusted-β per SD increase: 0.32, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.43, P < 0.001; 0.64, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.82, P < 0.001; respectively), ABSI (adjusted-β per SD increase for ABSI × 100: 0.27, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.36, P < 0.001) and BRI (adjusted-β per SD increase: 0.64, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.81, P < 0.001) levels. The relationship between anthropometric indices and arterial stiffness based on baPWV values were also consistent. ABSI had the highest predictive power of arterial stiffness (area under the curve, 0.594; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In Chinese adults with hypertension, BMI was inversely related to baPWV, while WHR, WHtR, ABSI and BRI were positively related. Waist circumference positively correlated with baPWV only in male hypertensive individuals.

Cardiac MRI evaluation of aortic biophysical properties in paediatric Turner syndrome

BACKGROUND

Aortopathy in Turner syndrome is associated with aortic dilation, and the risk of dissection is increased when the aortic size index is ≥ 2-2.5 cm/m2. We evaluated the aortic biophysical properties in paediatric Turner syndrome using cardiac MRI to determine their relationship to aortic size index.

METHODS

Turner syndrome patients underwent cardiac MRI to evaluate ventricular function, aortic dimensions, and biophysical properties (aortic stiffness index, compliance, distensibility, pulse wave velocity, and aortic and left ventricular elastance). Spearman correlation examined correlations between these properties and aortic size index. Data was compared to 10 controls.

RESULTS

Of 25 Turner syndrome patients, median age 14.7 years (interquartile range: 11.0-16.8), height z score -2.7 (interquartile range: -2.92 - -1.54), 24% had a bicuspid aortic valve. Turner syndrome had increased diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic (p < 0.001) and end-systolic (p = 0.002) volumes compared to controls. Median aortic size index was 1.81 cm/m2 (interquartile range: 1.45-2.1) and 7 had an aortic size index > 2 cm/m2. Aortic and left ventricular elastance were greater in Turner syndrome compared to controls (both p < 0.001). Increased aortic size index correlated with increased aortic elastance (r = 0.5, p = 0.01) and left ventricular elastance (r = 0.59, p = 0.002) but not aortic compliance. Higher ascending aortic areas were associated with increased aortic compliance (r = 0.44, p = 0.03) and left ventricular elastance (r = 0.49, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Paediatric Turner syndrome with similar aortic size index to controls showed MRI evidence of abnormal aortic biophysical properties. These findings point to an underlying aortopathy and provide additional parameters that may aid in determining risk factors for aortic dissection.

Cellular Senescence as a Targetable Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Diseases: Therapeutic Implications: JACC Family Series

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases markedly rises with age. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, is characterized by irreversible cell cycle arrest and the manifestation of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which has emerged as a significant contributor to aging, mortality, and a spectrum of chronic ailments. An increasing body of preclinical and clinical research has established connections between senescence, senescence-associated secretory phenotype, and age-related cardiac and vascular pathologies. This review comprehensively outlines studies delving into the detrimental impact of senescence on various cardiovascular diseases, encompassing systemic atherosclerosis (including coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease), as well as conditions such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and valvular heart diseases. In addition, we have preclinical studies demonstrating the beneficial effects of senolytics-a class of drugs designed to eliminate senescent cells selectively across diverse cardiovascular disease scenarios. Finally, we address knowledge gaps on the influence of senescence on cardiovascular systems and discuss the future trajectory of strategies targeting senescence for cardiovascular diseases.

Association between arterial stiffness and autonomic dysfunction in participants underwent treadmill exercise testing: a cross-sectional analysis

Data on the impact of arterial stiffness on autonomic function are limited. We sought to investigate whether heart rate recovery (HRR), a predictor of autonomic function, is impaired in patients with increased arterial stiffness. A total of 475 participants (mean age 55.8 ± 11.1 years, 34.3% women) who underwent a treadmill exercise test (TET) for the evaluation of chest pain were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measurement on the same day. HRR was defined as the difference in heart rate from maximal exercise to 1 min of recovery. Participants with the lowest HRR tertile were older and had more cardiovascular risk factors than those with the highest HRR tertile. Simple correlation analysis showed that baPWV was negatively correlated with HRR (r =  - 0.327, P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, there was a significant association between baPWV and HRR, even after adjusting for potential confounders (β =  - 0.181, P < 0.001). In participants who underwent TET, baPWV was negatively correlated with HRR. The results of our study indicate a potential relationship between arterial stiffness and the autonomic nervous system.

Paravascular fluid dynamics reveal arterial stiffness assessed using dynamic diffusion-weighted imaging

Paravascular cerebrospinal fluid (pCSF) surrounding the cerebral arteries within the glymphatic system is pulsatile and moves in synchrony with the pressure waves of the vessel wall. Whether such pulsatile pCSF can infer pulse wave propagation-a property tightly related to arterial stiffness-is unknown and has never been explored. Our recently developed imaging technique, dynamic diffusion-weighted imaging (dynDWI), captures the pulsatile pCSF dynamics in vivo and can explore this question. In this work, we evaluated the time shifts between pCSF waves and finger pulse waves, where pCSF waves were measured by dynDWI and finger pulse waves were measured by the scanner's built-in finger pulse oximeter. We hypothesized that the time shifts reflect brain-finger pulse wave travel time and are sensitive to arterial stiffness. We applied the framework to 36 participants aged 18-82 years to study the age effect of travel time, as well as its associations with cognitive function within the older participants (N = 15, age > 60 years). Our results revealed a strong and consistent correlation between pCSF pulse and finger pulse (mean CorrCoeff = 0.66), supporting arterial pulsation as a major driver for pCSF dynamics. The time delay between pCSF and finger pulses (TimeDelay) was significantly lower (i.e., faster pulse propagation) with advanced age (Pearson's r = -0.44, p = 0.007). Shorter TimeDelay was further associated with worse cognitive function in the older participants. Overall, our study demonstrated pCSF as a viable pathway for measuring intracranial pulses and encouraged future studies to investigate its relevance with cerebrovascular functions.

Assessment of aortic and peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with knee osteoarthritis by ultrasound Doppler derived pulse wave velocity

Information regarding regional arterial stiffness assessment in osteoarthritis (OA) was scarce and sometimes contradictory. We aimed to investigate the aortic, lower limb peripheral arterial stiffness and their associations with knee OA. Patients with primary knee OA and matched non-OA controls were prospectively enrolled from two medical centers in China. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and femoral-ankle pulse wave velocity (faPWV) were measured using a novel ultrasound technique. A total of 238 participants (including 128 patients with knee OA and 110 controls) were included. In OA patients, cfPWV was significantly higher than that of non-OA controls (9.40 ± 1.92 vs 8.25 ± 1.26 m/s, P < 0.0001). However, faPWV measurements in OA patients (12.10 ± 2.09 m/s) showed no significant difference compared with that of the controls (11.67 ± 2.52 m/s, P = 0.130). Multiple regression analysis revealed that cfPWV was independently associated with knee OA (P < 0.0001) after adjusting for the confounding factors including age, gender, smoking, mean blood pressure, body mass index, heart rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipids profiles. In contrast, faPWV did not show independent association with knee OA (P = 0.372) when after adjusting for confounding factors. In addition, Spearman's correlation analysis showed cfPWV had a significant correlation with Kellgren-Lawrence score (rs = 0.2333, P = 0.008), but no correlation was founded between faPWV with Kellgren-Lawrence score (rs = 0.1624, P = 0.067) in OA patients. This study demonstrated that stiffening of aorta, but not lower limb arteries, was independently associated with knee OA. Our findings may call for further implementation of routine aortic stiffness assessments so as to evaluate cardiovascular risk in patients with OA.

Arterial Stiffness and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Children Exposed to Smokeless Tobacco in Fetal Life

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffening and increased intima-media thickness can be seen as early as childhood and are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in adult life. The authors hypothesized that exposure to prenatal smokeless tobacco (Swedish snus) without additional nicotine exposure after the breastfeeding period would be associated with increased arterial stiffness and intima-media thickening in preschool children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a longitudinal follow-up cohort study of children aged 5 to 6 years exposed to high doses of nicotine in utero. Women exclusively using snus and unexposed controls were enrolled in early pregnancy (gestational age range, 6-12 weeks). Exposure data were collected during and after pregnancy with questionnaires from both groups. For this study, only children of women using >48 mg nicotine per day during their entire pregnancy were included in the exposure group. Outcomes were determined in 40 healthy children (21 exposed to snus in utero). Ultrasonography of the common carotid artery was used to determine carotid intima-media thickness and calculate arterial stiffness index from the relationship between pulsatile changes in arterial diameter and arterial pressure. Children exposed to snus in fetal life had higher carotid stiffness (median 4.1 [interquartile range (IQR), 2.4-5] versus 2.9 [IQR, 2.1-3.5]; P=0.014) than tobacco-free controls. Carotid strain (relative diameter change) was lower in children exposed to snus (mean 16% [SD, 5.7%] versus 21% [SD, 6.6%]) than in controls (P=0.015). Carotid intima-media thickness did not differ significantly between children exposed to snus and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to snus during fetal life was associated with a stiffer carotid artery in preschool children.

Effects and mechanisms of Zhizi Chuanxiong herb pair against atherosclerosis: an integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation

BACKGROUND

The Zhizi Chuanxiong herb pair (ZCHP) can delay pathological progression of atherosclerosis (AS); however, its pharmacological mechanism remains unclear because of its complex components. The purpose of current study is to systematically investigate the anti-AS mechanism of ZCHP.

METHODS

The databases of TCMSP, STITCH, SwissTargetPrediction, BATMAN-TCM, and ETCM were searched to predict the potential targets of ZCHP components. Disease targets associated with AS was retrieved from the GEO database. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway analyses were executed using DAVID 6.8. Molecular docking method was employed to evaluate the core target binding to blood components, and animal experiments were performed to test action mechanism.

RESULTS

A ZCHP-components-targets-AS network was constructed by using Cytoscape, included 11 main components and 52 candidate targets. Crucial genes were shown in the protein-protein interaction network, including TNF, IL-1β, IGF1, MMP9, COL1A1, CCR5, HMOX1, PTGS1, SELE, and SYK. KEGG enrichment illustrated that the NF-κB, Fc epsilon RI, and TNF signaling pathways were important for AS treatment. These results were validated by molecular docking. In ApoE-/- mice, ZCHP significantly reduced intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity, plaque area, and serum lipid levels while increasing the difference between the end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters. Furthermore, ZCHP significantly decreased the mRNA and protein levels of TNF-α and IL-1β, suppressed NF-κB activation, and inhibited the M1 macrophage polarization marker CD86 in ApoE-/- mice.

CONCLUSION

This study combining network pharmacology, molecular biology, and animal experiments showed that ZCHP can alleviate AS by suppressing the TNF/NF-κB axis and M1 macrophage polarization.

Stiffness and Elasticity of Aorta Assessed Using Computed Tomography Angiography as a Marker of Cardiovascular Health-A Cross-Sectional Study

Cardiovascular (CV) health can be measured using the American Health Association's Life's Simple 7 scale (ALS7). Aortic stiffness (AoS) and elasticity (AoE) can be assessed using various methods, e.g., computed tomography (CT). To measure AoE, we use aortic strain and distensibility (AoD). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ALS7, AoS, and AoE. The study group (SG) was composed of 96 patients (mean age 70.41 ± 8.32 years) with a BMI of 25.58 ± 3.12 kg/m2; 28.1% were smokers, 54.2% had hypertension, 11.4% had diabetes, and 67.7% had hypercholesterolemia. The SG was further divided into three subgroups (optimal (ALS7-H), intermediate (ALS7-I), and inadequate (ALS7-L)) based on the ALS7. The AoS and AoE were assessed in each of them. We found that the ALS7-I and ALS7-H had significantly lower AoS values compared to the ALS7-L (AoS: 3.50 ± 0.53 and 4.10 ± 0.70 vs. 4.57 ± 1.03, respectively). The opposite relationship was observed for AoE measured with AoD in the ALS7-H vs. ALS7-L (AoD: 0.23 ± 0.14 vs. 0.11 ± 0.09 cm2/dyn). AoS correlated (r = 0.61) with systolic blood pressure (BP). In our regression model, higher scores on the ALS7 in BP, smoking, and BMI were independent protective factors against greater AoS. Higher ALS7 scores in BP, smoking, BMI, and physical activity were protective factors against lesser aortic strain. Higher scores in ALS7 for BP and smoking were protective factors against lesser AoD. We conclude that better cardiovascular health expressed via higher scores obtained on the ALS7 is associated with lower AoS and higher AoE on CT.

Prognostic Value of Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity According to Subjects' Clinical Characteristics: Data From Analysis of 10,597 Subjects

BACKGROUND

To make good use of the prognostic value of arterial stiffness, it is important to identify the population with the greatest benefit. In this study, we compared the prognostic value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) according to various clinical characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 10,597 subjects who underwent baPWV measurement (mean age, 61.4 ± 9.5 years; female proportion, 42.5%) were retrospectively analyzed. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke were assessed during the clinical follow-up period.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, clinical variables with more than 4,000 subjects were selected as grouping variables, which were sex (men and women), age (≥ 65 and < 65 years), body mass index (BMI) (≥ 25 and < 25 kg/m²), hypertension (presence and absence), estimated glomerular filtration rate (≥ 90 and < 90 mL/min/1.73 m²), and statin use (user and non-user). During the median clinical follow-up duration of 3.58 years (interquartile range, 1.43-5.38 years), there were 422 MACEs (4.0%). In total study subjects, baseline higher baPWV was associated with increased risk of MACE occurrence (hazard ratio for baPWV ≥ 1,800 cm/s compared to baPWV < 1,400 cm/s, 4.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.62-6.21; P < 0.001). The prognostic value of baPWV was statistically significant regardless of sex, age, BMI, hypertension, renal function, and statin use.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that baPWV is not only effective in specific clinical situations, but can be effectively applied to predict cardiovascular prognosis in various clinical situations.

Resource efficient aortic distensibility calculation by end to end spatiotemporal learning of aortic lumen from multicentre multivendor multidisease CMR images

Aortic distensibility (AD) is important for the prognosis of multiple cardiovascular diseases. We propose a novel resource-efficient deep learning (DL) model, inspired by the bi-directional ConvLSTM U-Net with densely connected convolutions, to perform end-to-end hierarchical learning of the aorta from cine cardiovascular MRI towards streamlining AD quantification. Unlike current DL aortic segmentation approaches, our pipeline: (i) performs simultaneous spatio-temporal learning of the video input, (ii) combines the feature maps from the encoder and decoder using non-linear functions, and (iii) takes into account the high class imbalance. By using multi-centre multi-vendor data from a highly heterogeneous patient cohort, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art method in terms of accuracy and at the same time it consumes [Formula: see text] 3.9 times less fuel and generates [Formula: see text] 2.8 less carbon emissions. Our model could provide a valuable tool for exploring genome-wide associations of the AD with the cognitive performance in large-scale biomedical databases. By making energy usage and carbon emissions explicit, the presented work aligns with efforts to keep DL's energy requirements and carbon cost in check. The improved resource efficiency of our pipeline might open up the more systematic DL-powered evaluation of the MRI-derived aortic stiffness.

Arterial stiffness and hypertension

Arterial stiffness and hypertension are closely related in pathophysiology. Chronic high blood pressure (BP) can lead to arterial wall damage by mechanical stress, endothelial dysfunction, increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation. Hypertension also increases collagen fiber production and accelerates elastin fiber degradation. Stiffened arteries struggle with BP changes, raising systolic BP and pulse pressure. The resulting increased systolic pressure further hardens arteries, creating a harmful cycle of inflammation and calcification. Arterial stiffness data can predict target organ damage and future cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Thus, early detection of arterial stiffness aids in initiating preventive measures and treatment plans to protect against progression of vascular damage. While various methods exist for measuring arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity is a non-invasive, simple measurement method that maximizes effectiveness. Healthy lifestyle changes, RAAS blockers, and statins are known to reduce arterial stiffness. Further research is needed to ascertain if improving arterial stiffness will enhance prognosis in hypertensive patients.

Clinical Impact and Mechanisms of Nonatherosclerotic Vascular Aging: The New Kid to Be Blocked

Ischemic cardiovascular disease and stroke remain the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. During aging, protective mechanisms in the body gradually deteriorate, resulting in functional, structural, and morphologic changes that affect the vascular system. Because atherosclerotic plaques are not always present along with these alterations, we refer to this kind of vascular aging as nonatherosclerotic vascular aging (NAVA). To maintain proper vascular function during NAVA, it is important to preserve intracellular signalling, prevent inflammation, and block the development of senescent cells. Pharmacologic interventions targeting these components are potential therapeutic approaches for NAVA, with a particular emphasis on inflammation and senescence. This review provides an overview of the pathophysiology of vascular aging and explores potential pharmacotherapies that can improve the function of aged vasculature, focusing on NAVA.

The Prognostic Value of Arterial Stiffness According to Socioeconomic Status

BACKGROUND

Individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES) often exhibit increased cardiovascular risk factors and a worse prognosis. We conducted this study to ascertain whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a straightforward and reliable measure of arterial stiffness, can hold prognostic value for people with low SES.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 1266 subjects (mean age 64.6 ± 11.6 years; 47.2% female) without documented cardiovascular disease who had undergone baPWV measurement. The subjects included 633 National Health Insurance Beneficiaries (NHIB) and 633 Medical Aid Beneficiaries (MAB), matched for major clinical features through a 1:1 propensity score matching method. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), such as death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization, and heart failure necessitating admission, were assessed during the clinical follow-up.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up period of 4.2 years (interquartile range, 2.2-5.7 years), there were 77 MACE cases (6.1%). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, baPWV was identified as a significant predictor of MACE in both groups, regardless of the use of three different baPWV criteria (median value, Asian consensus recommendation, and cut-off value obtained by receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve analysis). In both groups, the baPWV value obtained using ROC curve analysis emerged as the best predictor of MACE. This predictive value was stronger in the NHIB group (hazard ratio, 5.80; 95% confidence interval, 2.30-14.65; p < 0.001) than in the MAB group (hazard ratio, 3.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-6.92; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

baPWV was associated with future MACE incidence in both NHIB and MAB groups. Since baPWV is simple and cost-effective to measure, it could be efficiently used as a risk stratification tool for individuals with low SES.

Associations of Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity with Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference among General Korean Adults

The correlation between body fat parameters and arterial stiffness is still under debate. This study aimed to examine the associations of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV). We utilized data from 14,228 subjects (mean age 53.4 ± 16.8 years; 56.9% were female) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The ePWV was calculated using a formula based on age and blood pressure. Simple linear correlation analyses revealed significant associations between both BMI and ePWV (r = 0.098; p < 0.001) and WC and ePWV (r = 0.291; p < 0.001), with a stronger correlation observed between WC and ePWV. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that WC remained significantly associated with ePWV after adjusting for potential confounders (β = 0.020; p = 0.001). However, a statistically significant association was not found between BMI and ePWV (β = 0.011; p = 0.076). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis further indicated that both higher BMI and WC were independently associated with higher ePWV, but the association was more pronounced between WC and ePWV than between BMI and ePWV. These findings underscore a stronger correlation between visceral obesity (as indicated by WC) and arterial stiffness (as indicated by ePWV) compared to overall obesity (as indicated by BMI). This highlights the potential significance of abdominal obesity in assessing cardiovascular risk.

Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness Parameters and the Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Level in Patients with Premature Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Myocardial infarction (MI) is increasing at a younger age. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been implicated in several key mechanisms of atherogenesis. Arterial stiffness parameters, including pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AIx), can indicate the presence or progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the GDF-15 level and arterial stiffness parameters in patients with premature MI.

METHOD

Thirty patients aged ≤45 years (mean age: 39 ± 5 years, 23 male) who recovered from a MI and 15 age and sex-matched subjects were consecutively included. The serum GDF-15 concentration levels and arterial stiffness parameters of the patients and controls were measured.

RESULTS

GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in patients with premature MI, while there were no significant differences in PWV and AIx between the groups. The GDF-15 level was correlated negatively with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and positively with uric acid levels. Both GDF-15 (p = 0.046, odds ratio: 1.092, 95% confidence interval: 1.003-1.196) and HDL cholesterol (p = 0.037, odds ratio: 0.925, 95% confidence interval: 0.859-0.995) were found as independent factors associated with premature MI.

CONCLUSIONS

GDF-15 could be a risk factor for premature MI. Further studies are needed to elucidate the central role of GDF-15 in the pathophysiology of early atherosclerosis and MI in the young population.

Pulse Wave Velocity of 8.2 m/s as a Threshold Associated with Cardiovascular Target Organ Damage Presence

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have established normal and reference values for Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). However, the PWV value that has the strongest association with cardiovascular biomarkers remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the PWV value more likely to be associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), increased intima-media thickness (IMT), and presence of carotid plaques in patients with hypertension.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 119 patients. Analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was performed for each cardiovascular biomarker. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

According to the ROC curve analysis, the PWV values were 8.1 m/s, 8.2 m/s, and 8.7 for the LVH, IMT, and presence of carotid plaques, respectively. A PWV value of 8.2 m/s was identified as the best parameter to determine the three TOD biomarkers. PWV above 8.2 m/s was associated with increased CIMT (p = 0.004) and the presence of carotid plaques (p = 0.003) and LVH (p<0.001). PWV above 8.2 showed greater sensitivity for increased CIMT (AUC = 0.678, sensitivity = 62.2), LVH (AUC = 0.717, sensitivity = 87.2), and the presence of plaques (AUC = 0.649, sensitivity = 74.51) in the ROC curve analysis.

CONCLUSION

The PWV value 8.2 m/s was more sensitive in early identifying the existence of cardiovascular biomarkers of TOD.

Resistin: A Potential Indicator of Aortic Stiffness in Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background and Objectives: In the progression and development of atherosclerosis, resistin plays a significant role. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), frequently associated with atherosclerosis, exhibits a marked increase in morbidity and mortality rates. This study set out to explore the association between aortic stiffness and serum levels of resistin in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients ranging from stages 3 to 5. Materials and Methods: We collected fasting blood samples from 240 CKD patients across stages 3 to 5. The concentration of resistin in serum was determined using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit. Those patients who exhibited a carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) greater than 10 m/s were identified as the aortic stiffness group. Results: Out of the 240 CKD patients, 88 (36.7%) were classified within the aortic stiffness group. This group demonstrated higher incidences of diabetes, advanced age, increased body weight, body mass index, body fat mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, and serum resistin levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis highlighted resistin, diabetes, and body weight as independent predictors of aortic stiffness. Additionally, body fat mass, logarithmically transformed cfPWV (log-cfPWV) values and log-triglyceride levels were independent predictors of log-resistin levels by multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis. Conclusions: In CKD patients from stages 3 to 5, a positive correlation exists between elevated serum resistin levels and cfPWV values, identifying resistin as a potential predictor of aortic stiffness.

Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity in the Prediction of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation

Background The prognostic value of estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been infrequently explored in high-risk patient groups. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of ePWV among patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluting stent (DES). Methods A total of 4119 consecutive subjects who underwent a PCI with a DES (mean age, 67.1 ± 11.6 years and 33.1% were female) were retrospectively analyzed. ePWV was calculated based on the patient's age and mean blood pressure. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke, were evaluated. Results During a median follow-up duration of 3.51 years (interquartile range, 1.35-6.37 years), there were 746 MACEs (18.1%). A multivariable analysis showed that a higher ePWV was associated with a higher MACE incidence (middle tertile vs. the lowest tertile: hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-3.42; p < 0.001; the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile: HR, 6.18; 95% CI, 4.33-8.80; p < 0.001) The inclusion of ePWV data significantly increased the global chi-square values when added to the clinical information (from 96 to 128; p < 0.001). Conclusion ePWV demonstrated a significant association with MACEs in patients who underwent DES implantation. Given its relative simplicity to calculate, ePWV could potentially serve as a valuable instrument for stratifying cardiovascular risks within this high-risk patient population.

Relationship between arterial stiffness, left ventricular diastolic function, and renal function in chronic kidney disease

AIM

In chronic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction have prognostic significance as well. However, the relationship between diastolic dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and renal function has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

79 IgA nephropathy patients (aged 46 ± 11 years) and 50 controls were investigated. Tissue Doppler imaging was used to measure early (Ea) and late (Aa) diastolic velocities. Arterial stiffness was measured by a photoplethysmographic (stiffness index (SI)) and an oscillometric method (aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao)).

RESULTS

We compared the IgAN patients to a similar cardiovascular risk group with a preserved eGFR. A strong correlation was found between Ea/Aa and SI (p < 0.001), also with PWVao (p < 0.001), just in IgAN, and with eGFR (p < 0.001) in both groups. IgAN patients were divided into groups CKD1-2 vs. CKD3-5. In the CKD 3-5 group, the incidence of diastolic dysfunction increased significantly: 39% vs. 72% (p = 0.003). Left ventricle rigidity (LVR) was calculated, which showed a close correlation with SI (p = 0.009) and eGFR (p = 0.038). By linear regression analysis, the independent predictors of SI were age, E/A, and E/Ea; SI was the predictor of LVR; and E/A and hypertension were the predictors of eGFR.

CONCLUSION

In chronic kidney disease, increased cardiac rigidity and vascular stiffness coexist with decreased renal function, which is directly connected to diastolic dysfunction and vascular stiffness. On the basis of comparing the CKD group to the control group, vascular alterations in very early CKD can be identified.

Life's Essential 8: Optimizing Health in Older Adults

The population worldwide is getting older as a result of advances in public health, medicine, and technology. Older individuals are living longer with a higher prevalence of subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). In 2010, the American Heart Association introduced a list of key prevention targets, known as "Life's Simple 7" to increase CVD-free survival, longevity, and quality of life. In 2022, sleep health was added to expand the recommendations to "Life's Essential 8" (eat better, be more active, stop smoking, get adequate sleep, manage weight, manage cholesterol, manage blood pressure, and manage diabetes). These prevention targets are intended to apply regardless of chronologic age. During this same time, the understanding of aging biology and goals of care for older adults further enhanced the relevance of prevention across the range of functions. From a biological perspective, aging is a complex cellular process characterized by genomic instability, telomere attrition, loss of proteostasis, inflammation, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication. These aging hallmarks are triggered by and enhanced by traditional CVD risk factors leading to geriatric syndromes (eg, frailty, sarcopenia, functional limitation, and cognitive impairment) which complicate efforts toward prevention. Therefore, we review Life's Essential 8 through the lens of aging biology, geroscience, and geriatric precepts to guide clinicians taking care of older adults.

Arterial stiffness is associated with cancer mortality: Insight from Kailuan study

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence on the association between arterial stenosis and the risk of all-cause mortality in cancer patients (ACMC). This study investigated whether the status of arterial function and structure measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is associated with ACMC.

METHODS

A total of 43,943 Chinese adults underwent a baPWV examination. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between the baPWV values and ACMC.

RESULTS

During a total follow-up duration of 3.81 ± 2.50 years, there were 157 deaths among 553 cancer cases diagnosed during the follow-up. Patients with baPWV ≥18 m/s showed an increased risk of ACMC compared to patients with ideal vascular function. In the multivariate-adjusted model, we observed a significant association between arterial stiffness severity and ACMC with a hazard ratio (HR) 2.72 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-4.80; p < 0.001) in those with baPWV ≥18 m/s. With a 1-SD increase in baPWV, the HR (95% CI) for ACMC in the entire cohort, men, and patients ≤60 years old were 1.20 (95% CI: 1.03-1.41; p < 0.05), 1.20 (95% CI: 1.01-1.43; p < 0.05), and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.10-1.44; p = 0.008), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased arterial stiffness measured by baPWV is associated with ACMC. The association between high baPWV (≥18 m/s) and risk of all-cause mortality was prominent in men and those ≤60 years of age.

Cardiometabolic Profile, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors after Different Physical Exercise Protocols: A 34-Month Follow-Up Study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) and cardiovascular (CV) disease share many risk factors associated with worse outcomes, in terms of cancer relapse, CV events, and quality of life (QoL), that could be counteracted by physical exercise (PE). We aimed to assess the impact of a 12-week differential PE protocol on cardiometabolic profile, QoL, CV- and BC-related long-term outcomes, and physical activity (PA) in a cohort of BC survivors (BCS) not treated with chemotherapy.

METHODS

57 BCS participated in a 12-week PE protocol [aerobic exercise training (AET) or resistance exercise training (RET)]. Anthropometric and CV evaluation, health-related (HR)-QoL, daily PA, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were assessed before (T0) and after (T1) PE. We assessed BC and CV outcomes, HR-QoL, CV-QoL, and PA at the follow-up.

RESULTS

RET improved waist circumference, DHEA-S, cortisol/DHEA-S, systolic and mean blood pressure, and ventricular/arterial coupling; AET ameliorated sagittal abdomen diameter and pulse wave velocity. Regarding HR-QoL, physical function improved only in AET group. At a mean 34 ± 3.6-month follow-up, we documented no significant differences in CV-QoL, HR-QoL, and PA or CV and BC outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

AET and RET determine specific, positive adaptations on many parameters strongly related to CV risk, CV and BC outcomes, and QoL, and should be included in any cardio-oncology rehabilitation program.

Comparison of aortic stiffness and hypertension in repaired coarctation patients with a bicuspid versus a tricuspid aortic valve

BACKGROUND

Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is associated with reduced aortic distensibility and systemic hypertension (HTN). 60-85% of COA patients have a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). It is not known if the presence of a BAV accentuates the aortopathy and HTN in CoA patients. We examined whether patients with COA and a BAV had lower aortic distensibility by CMR, and a higher prevalence of systemic HTN compared with COA patients with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

METHODS

In successfully repaired COA patients excluding those with residual COA, ascending aorta (AAO) and descending aorta (DAO) distensibility was calculated by CMR. HTN was assessed using standard pediatric and adult criteria.

RESULTS

Among 215 COA patients (median age 25.3 years), 67% had a BAV, and 33% had a TAV. Median AAO distensibility z-score was lower in the BAV group (- 1.2 versus - 0.7; p = 0.014) but DAO distensibility was similar in BAV and TAV patients. HTN prevalence was similar in BAV (32%) and TAV groups (36%, p = 0.56). On multivariable analysis controlling for confounders, HTN was not associated with BAV but was associated with male gender (p = 0.003) and older age at follow-up (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

In young adults with treated COA, those with a BAV had stiffer AAO compared to those with a TAV, but DAO stiffness was similar. HTN was not related to BAV. These results suggest that although the presence of a BAV in COA exacerbates the AAO aortopathy, it does not exacerbate the more generalized vascular dysfunction and associated HTN.

Aortopathies: From Etiology to the Role of Arterial Stiffness

The aorta and aortic wall have a complex biological system of structural, biochemical, biomolecular, and hemodynamic elements. Arterial stiffness could be considered a manifestation of wall structural and functional variations, and it has been revealed to have a strong connection with aortopathies and be a predictor of cardiovascular risk, especially in patients affected by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and nephropathy. Stiffness affects the function of different organs, especially the brain, kidneys, and heart, promoting remodeling of small arteries and endothelial dysfunction. This parameter could be easily evaluated using different methods, but pulse-wave velocity (PWV), the speed of transmission of arterial pressure waves, is considered the gold standard for a good and precise assessment. An increased PWV value indicates an elevated level of aortic stiffness because of the decline in elastin synthesis and activation of proteolysis and the increase in fibrosis that contributes to parietal rigidity. Higher values of PWV could also be found in some genetic diseases, such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) or Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS). Aortic stiffness has emerged as a major new cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, and its evaluation using PWV could be very useful to identify patients with a high cardiovascular risk, giving some important prognostic information but also being used to value the benefits of therapeutic strategies.

A Critical Review on Vasoactive Nutrients for the Management of Endothelial Dysfunction and Arterial Stiffness in Individuals under Cardiovascular Risk

Pathophysiological conditions such as endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness, characterized by low nitric oxide bioavailability, deficient endothelium-dependent vasodilation and heart effort, predispose individuals to atherosclerotic lesions and cardiac events. Nitrate (NO₃^-), L-arginine, L-citrulline and potassium (K⁺) can mitigate arterial dysfunction and stiffness by intensifying NO bioavailability. Dietary compounds such as L-arginine, L-citrulline, NO₃^- and K⁺ exert vasoactive effects as demonstrated in clinical interventions by noninvasive flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) prognostic techniques. Daily L-arginine intakes ranging from 4.5 to 21 g lead to increased FMD and reduced PWV responses. Isolated L-citrulline intake of at least 5.6 g has a better effect compared to watermelon extract, which is only effective on endothelial function when supplemented for longer than 6 weeks and contains at least 6 g of L-citrulline. NO₃^- supplementation employing beetroot at doses greater than 370 mg promotes hemodynamic effects through the NO₃^--NO2-/NO pathway, a well-documented effect. A potassium intake of 1.5 g/day can restore endothelial function and arterial mobility, where decreased vascular tone takes place via ATPase pump/hyperpolarization and natriuresis, leading to muscle relaxation and NO release. These dietary interventions, alone or synergically, can ameliorate endothelial dysfunction and should be considered as adjuvant therapies in cardiovascular diseases.

Standardisation and future of preclinical echocardiography

Echocardiography is a non-invasive imaging technique providing real-time information to assess the structure and function of the heart. Due to advancements in technology, ultra-high-frequency transducers have enabled the translation of ultrasound from humans to small animals due to resolutions down to 30 µm. Most studies are performed using mice and rats, with ages ranging from embryonic, to neonatal, and adult. In addition, alternative models such as zebrafish and chicken embryos are becoming more frequently used. With the achieved high temporal and spatial resolution in real-time, cardiac function can now be monitored throughout the lifespan of these small animals to investigate the origin and treatment of a range of acute and chronic pathological conditions. With the increased relevance of in vivo real-time imaging, there is still an unmet need for the standardisation of small animal echocardiography and the appropriate cardiac measurements that should be reported in preclinical cardiac models. This review focuses on the development of standardisation in preclinical echocardiography and reports appropriate cardiac measurements throughout the lifespan of rodents: embryonic, neonatal, ageing, and acute and chronic pathologies. Lastly, we will discuss the future of cardiac preclinical ultrasound.

Computational clustering reveals differentiated coronary artery calcium progression at prevalent levels of pulse wave velocity by classifying high-risk patients

Many studies found that increased arterial stiffness is significantly associated with the presence and progression of Coronary Calcium Score (CCS). However, none so far have used machine learning algorithms to improve their value. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the association between carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (cfPWV) and CCS score through computational clustering. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from a cardiovascular risk screening program that included 377 participants. We used an unsupervised clustering algorithm using age, weight, height, blood pressure, heart rate, and cfPWV as input variables. Differences between cluster groups were analyzed through Chi-square and T-student tests. The association between (i) cfPWV and age groups, (ii) log (CCS) and age groups, and (iii) cfPWV and log(CCS) were addressed through linear regression analysis. Clusters were labeled post hoc based on cardiovascular risk. A "higher-risk group" had significantly higher left (0.76 vs. 0.70 mm, P < 0.001) and right (0.71 vs. 0.66 mm, P = 0.003) intima-media thickness, CCS (42 vs. 4 Agatston units, P = 0.012), and ascending (3.40 vs. 3.20 cm, P < 0.001) and descending (2.60 vs. 2.37 cm, P < 0.001) aorta diameters. Association with age appeared linear for cfPWV and exponential for log (CCS). The progression of the log (CCS) and cfPWV through age groups was steeper in the "higher-risk group" than in the "lower-risk group". cfPWV strongly correlated with CCS, and CCS progression over cfPWV differed among clusters. This finding could improve PWV as a "gate-keeper" of CCS testing and potentially enhance cardiovascular risk stratification.

Fructose-induced salt-sensitive blood pressure differentially affects sympathetically mediated aortic stiffness in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Aortic stiffness and sympathoexcitation are robust predictors of MACE. Combined high fructose and sodium intake increases arterial pressure, aortic stiffness, renin, and sympathetic nerve activity in male rats. We hypothesized that activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and/or the sympathetic system mediates aortic stiffness in rats with fructose-induced salt-sensitive blood pressure. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats ingested 20% fructose or 20% glucose in drinking water with 0.4% NaCl chow for 1 week. Then, fructose-fed rats were switched to 4% NaCl chow (Fru + HS); glucose-fed rats remained on 0.4% NaCl chow (Glu + NS, controls for caloric intake). After 2 weeks, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and aortic pulsed wave velocity (PWV) were evaluated at baseline or after acute intravenous vehicle, clonidine, enalapril, losartan, or hydrochlorothiazide. Baseline global longitudinal strain (GLS) was also assessed. MAP and PWV were greater in male Fru + HS versus Glu + NS male rats (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). PWV was similar between the female groups. Despite similarly reduced MAP after clonidine, PWV decreased in Fru + HS versus Glu + NS male rats (p < 0.01). Clonidine induced similar decreases in MAP and PWV in females on either diet. GLS was lower in Fru + HS versus Glu + NS male rats and either of the female groups. Thus, acute sympathoinhibition improved aortic compliance in male rats with fructose salt-sensitive blood pressure. Female rats retained aortic compliance regardless of diet. Acute RAS inhibition exerted no significant effects. Male rats on fructose high salt diet displayed an early deficit in myocardial function. Taken together, these findings suggest that adult female rats are protected from the impact of fructose and high salt diet on blood pressure, aortic stiffness, and early left ventricular dysfunction compared with male rats.

Thoracic and abdominal aortic alterations in dogs affected with systemic hypertension

Aortic remodeling is the consequence of untreated systemic hypertension along with aortic dilatation as a marker for target organ damage in human literature. Therefore, the present study was planned to detect the changes in aorta at the level of aortic root via echocardiography, thoracic descending aorta via radiography and abdominal aorta via ultrasonography in healthy (n = 46), diseased normotensive (n = 20) and systemically hypertensive dogs (n = 60). The aortic root dimensions were measured at the level of aortic annulus, sinus of valsalva, sino-tubular junction and proximal ascending aorta via left ventricular outflow tract view of echocardiography. The thoracic descending aorta was subjectively assessed for any disparity in size and shape of aorta via lateral and dorso-ventral view of chest radiography. The abdominal aorta was assessed via left and right paralumbar window for calculating the aortic elasticity along with aortic and caudal venacaval dimensions to calculate the aortic-caval ratio. The aortic root measurements were dilated (p < 0.001) in systemically hypertensive dogs with a positive correlation (p < 0.001) with systolic blood pressure (BP). Thoracic descending aorta was also (p < 0.05) altered in the size and shape (undulation) of systemically hypertensive dogs. Abdominal aorta was markedly stiffened with reduced elasticity (p < 0.05) along with dilatation (p < 0.01) in hypertensive dogs. Also, there was a positive correlation (p < 0.001) of aortic diameters and aortic-caval ratio and negative correlation (p < 0.001) of aortic elasticity with systolic BP. Therefore, it was concluded that aorta could be considered as an important target organ damage of systemic hypertension in dogs.

Dietary Intake and Arterial Stiffness in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that is affected by diet. However, research understanding how these dietary risk factors are related to arterial stiffness during childhood is limited. The purpose of this review was to determine whether various dietary factors were associated with arterial stiffness in the pediatric population. Five databases were systematically searched. Intervention studies, cross-sectional and cohort studies were included that investigated nutrient or food intake and outcomes of arterial stiffness, primarily measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx), in the pediatric population (aged 0-18 years). A final 19 studies (six intervention and 13 observational) were included. Only two intervention studies, including a vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation trial, found protective effects on PWV and AIx in adolescents. Findings from observational studies were overall inconsistent and varied. There was limited evidence to indicate a protective effect of a healthy dietary pattern on arterial stiffness and an adverse effect of total fat intake, sodium intake and fast-food consumption. Overall, results indicated that some dietary factors may be associated with arterial stiffness in pediatric populations; however, inconsistencies were observed across all study designs. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to confirm the potential associations found in this review.

Different Doses of Scubitril/Valsartan Compared with Olmesartan in Patients with Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Since sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696) has neprilysin inhibition and angiotensin receptor-blocking properties, it is anticipated to have strong antihypertensive effects. However, there is not enough evidence to compare the safety and efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan to those of olmesartan in patients with hypertension.

AIM

To compare the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan versus olmesartan in patients with hypertension.

METHODS

This study follows the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for relevant clinical trials. We extracted outcome endpoints regarding mean ambulatory systolic/diastolic blood pressure (maSBP/maDBP), mean sitting systolic/diastolic blood pressure (msSBP/msDBP), mean ambulatory/mean sitting pulse pressure (maPP/msPP), the proportion of patients achieving blood pressure control (< 140/90 mmHg), and adverse events. We used Review Manager Software for the conduction of the analysis of this study. The effect estimates of the studies were pooled as Mean difference or risk ratio and 95% confidence interval. We also conducted a subgroup analysis based on the dose of sacubitril/valsartan.

RESULTS

A total of six clinical trials were included. The studies showed an overall low risk of bias. The pooled effect estimate revealed that sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduces maSBP, maDBP, maPP, msSBP, and msDBP measurements compared with olmesartan (p < 0.001). A significantly higher portion of patients achieved blood pressure control in the sacubitril/valsartan group (p < 0.001). The test of subgroup difference showed that 400 mg dose is significantly more effective than 200 mg dose in reducing maSBP. Regarding the safety profile, olmesartan was associated with more side effects due to drug discontinuation and more serious side effects.

CONCLUSION

Sacubitril/valsartan or LCZ696 is more effective and safer than olmesartan for controlling blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Double Aortic Arch in an Asymptomatic Adult

We present a rare double aortic arch (DAA) diagnosis incidentally on CT in a 60-year-old male who presented with pneumonia. DAA is a vascular ring that typically manifests in infants or children due to compression of the esophagus or trachea, resulting in dysphagia or dyspnea. Diagnosis of DAA in adulthood is usually due to the delayed emergence of obstructive symptoms. We present a case of DAA in an adult patient without dysphagia or dyspnea. We discuss factors that can lead to the presentation of DAA in adults. These include an absence of associated congenital disabilities, insufficient tracheal or esophageal constriction in childhood and the onset of compressive symptoms later in life from decreased vascular compliance.