Relations of digital vascular function, cardiovascular risk factors, and arterial stiffness: the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohort study

Correlation between peripheral endothelial function, oxygen consumption and ventilatory efficiency in heart transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND

Endothelial dysfunction and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) are also predictors of increased risk of cardiovascular events in heart transplantation (HTx) recipients. The preservation of endothelial function may contribute to exercise tolerance.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between peripheral endothelial function and exercise tolerance through VO2peak and ventilation to carbon dioxide production slope (VE / VCO2 slope) in HTx recipients.

METHODS

A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted with adult individuals aged 18-65 years, HTx ≥ six months after surgery, who had a stable medical condition and no changes over the last three months of immunosuppressive treatment. The patients underwent an assessment of endothelial function through PAT (EndoPAT-2000®) and performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET).

RESULTS

A total of 41% of the studied population presented endothelial dysfunction. The individuals were divided into two groups: the endothelial dysfunction (GED; n=9) group and the normal endothelial function (GNEF; n=13) group according to the logarithm of the reactive hyperemia index (LnRHI). There was a positive and moderate correlation between the LnRHI and VO2 peak (r=0.659, p=0.013) and a negative and moderate correlation between the LnRHI and VE/VCO2 slope (r= -0.686, p= 0.009) in the GNEF. However, no significant correlations were found in the GED.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the preservation of peripheral endothelial function is significantly correlated with an increase in exercise tolerance in individuals after HTx. These findings bring important considerations for cardiovascular risk prevention and emphasize that therapeutic strategies with physical training programs must be implemented early.

Endothelial function, arterial stiffness and Framingham risk score in chronic kidney disease: A prospective observational cohort study

The aim of this study was to assess the role of endothelial function measured by the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), arterial stiffness measured by the augmentation index (AIx), and Framingham's cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk score (FRS) in kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The RHI and AIx@75 (adjusted for 75 heart beats per minute), both derived from peripheral arterial tonometry (EndoPAT), were measured in 428 CKD patients aged 18 years old and older during hospitalization. We evaluated kidney function and its decline (incident ≥40% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] or initiation of renal replacement therapy) associated with the RHI, AIx@75, and FRS during follow-up for a median of 36 months. The mean age of the participants was 56 years old, and 63.8% were men. In Spearman correlation analysis, the FRS, AIx@75, and RHI levels inversely correlated with eGFR. Over a median follow-up of 36 months, 122 participants experienced kidney function decline. In multivariate Cox analysis, only the FRS remained independently associated with the progression of kidney function (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.64; P = 0.001). Multivariable-adjusted spline regression models showed a positive linear relationship between the FRS and the risk of kidney function decline (P-overall = 0.001, P-nonlinear = 0.701). However, adding the FRS to a model containing kidney function markers did not improve risk prediction for kidney outcome (category-free net reclassification improvement index [cf-NRI] = 0.179, P = 0.084; integrated discrimination improvement [IDI] = 0.017, P = 0.128). Additionally, the increased risk of the outcome associated with an elevated FRS was particularly evident among CKD patients with eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73  m² (eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m² vs.< 60 ml/min/1.73 m², P for interaction =  0.022). Participants with higher FRS levels were at increased risk of kidney function decline, emphasizing the important role of traditional CVD risk factors in the progression of CKD.

Epicardial Fat Volume Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction, but not with Coronary Calcification: From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

BACKGROUND

The increase in epicardial fat volume (EFV) is related to coronary artery disease (CAD), independent of visceral or subcutaneous fat. The mechanism underlying this association is unclear. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and endothelial dysfunction are related to coronary events, but whether EFV is related to these markers needs further clarification.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between automatically measured EFV, cardiovascular risk factors, CAC, and endothelial function.

METHODS

In 470 participants from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) with measures of EFV, CAC score and endothelial function, we performed multivariable models to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors and EFV (response variable), and between EFV (explanatory variable) and endothelial function variables or CAC score. Two-sided p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Mean age was 55 ± 8 years, 52.3% of patients were men. Mean EFV was 111mL (IQ 86-144), and the prevalence of CAC score=0 was 55%. In the multivariable analyses, increased EFV was related to female sex, older age, waist circumference, and triglycerides (p<0.001 for all). Higher EFV was associated with worse endothelial function: as compared with the first quartile, the odds ratio for basal pulse amplitude were (q2=1.22, 95%CI 1.07-1.40; q3=1.50, 95%CI 1.30-1.74; q4=1.50, 95%CI 1.28-1.79) and for peripheral arterial tonometry ratio were (q2=0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.95; q3=0.86, 95%CI 0.79-0.94; q4=0.80, 95%CI 0.73-0.89), but not with CAC score>0.

CONCLUSION

Higher EFV was associated with impaired endothelial function, but not with CAC. The results suggest that EFV is related to the development of CAD through a pathway different from the CAC pathway, possibly through aggravation of endothelial dysfunction and microvascular disease.

Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness Should Be Measured to Comprehensively Assess Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Clinical Practice

Objective: An effective clinical tool to assess endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is lacking. This study evaluated the clinical significance of subclinical markers for OSA management in males without serious complications.

Patients/Methods: Males without serious complications were consecutively recruited. Clinical data, biomarker tests, reactive hyperemia index (RHI), and augmentation index at 75 beats/min (AIx75) measured by peripheral arterial tonometry were collected. An apnea hypopnea index (AHI) cutoff of ≥15 events/h divided the patients into two groups.

Results: Of the 75 subjects, 42 had an AHI ≥15 events/h. Patients with an AHI ≥15 events/h had higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor, and AIx75 values than the control group but no statistical difference in RHI was observed. After controlling for confounders, TNF-α was negatively correlated with the average oxygen saturation (r = −0.258, P = 0.043). RHI was correlated with the rapid eye movement (REM) stage percentage (r = 0.306, P = 0.016) but not with AHI (P > 0.05). AIx75 was positively correlated with the arousal index (r = 0.289, P = 0.023) but not with AHI (r = 0.248, P = 0.052).

Conclusions: In males with OSA without severe complications, TNF-α and AIx75 are independently related to OSA. The role of RHI in OSA management requires further elucidation. These markers combined can comprehensively evaluate OSA patients to provide more evidence for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease and treatment response assessment.

Digital Peripheral Arterial Tonometry and Cardiovascular Disease Events: The Framingham Heart Study

Background and Purpose

Novel noninvasive measures of vascular function are emerging as subclinical markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and may be useful to predict CVD events. The purpose of our prospective study was to assess associations between digital peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) measures and first-onset major CVD events in a sample of FHS (Framingham Heart Study) participants.

Methods

Using a fingertip PAT device, we assessed pulse amplitude in Framingham Offspring and Third Generation participants (n=3865; mean age, 55±14 years; 52% women) at baseline and in 30-second intervals for 4 minutes during reactive hyperemia. The PAT ratio (relative hyperemia index) was calculated as the post-to-pre occlusion pulse signal ratio in the occluded arm, relative to the same ratio in the control (nonoccluded) arm, and corrected for baseline vascular tone. Baseline pulse amplitude and PAT ratio during hyperemia are measures of pressure pulsatility and microvascular function in the finger, respectively. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to relate PAT measures in the fingertip to incident CVD events.

Results

During follow-up (median, 9.2 years; range, 0.04–10.0 years), 270 participants (7%) experienced new-onset CVD events (n=270). In multivariable models adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors, baseline pulse amplitude (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 SD, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.90–1.21]; P=0.57) and PAT ratio (HR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.84–1.08]; P=0.43) were not significantly related to incident composite CVD events, including myocardial infarction or heart failure. However, higher PAT ratio (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.61–0.94]; P=0.013), but not baseline pulse amplitude (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.89–1.49]; P=0.29), was related to lower risk for incident stroke. In a sensitivity analysis by stroke subtype, higher PAT ratio was related to lower risk of incident ischemic stroke events (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.53–0.86]; P=0.001).

Conclusions

Novel digital PAT measures may represent a marker of stroke risk in the community.

The treatment of mild OSA with CPAP or mandibular advancement device and the effect on blood pressure and endothelial function after one year of treatment

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and compare the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), use of a mandibular advancement device (MAD), and no treatment on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and peripheral arterial tonometry at 6 and 12 months follow-up in individuals with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and in a subgroup who had an apnea-hypopnea index of < 5 events/h and adherence of ≥ 4 hours per night (effective-treatment subgroups).

METHODS

The inclusion criteria were individuals with mild obstructive sleep apnea, any sex, age between 18 and 65 years, and a body mass index of ≤ 35 kg/m². Patients were randomized into CPAP, MAD, and no-treatment groups. The evaluations included physical examination, full polysomnography, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and peripheral arterial tonometry at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. A generalized linear mixed model was used for comparisons.

RESULTS

The CPAP and MAD groups had lower apnea-hypopnea indexes than the control group at 6 and 12 months, and the CPAP group had higher blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) than the MAD group. The MAD group had more hours of treatment per night and better adaptation to treatment than the CPAP group (MAD: 5.7 ± 2.7 h/night; CPAP: 3.8 ± 3.4 h/night; MAD: 16% did not adapt; CPAP: 42% did not adapt). No differences were found in the total sample and effective treatment in relation to peripheral arterial tonometry or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP or MAD did not improve blood pressure or endothelial function after 1 year, even in patients with effective treatment.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Oral Appliances Treatments in Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01461486; Identifier: NCT01461486.

Segmental Evaluation of Thoracic Aortic Calcium and Their Relations with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Thoracic aortic calcium (TAC) appears to be a subclinical marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to predict cardiovascular (CV) mortality. However, studies on TAC use tomographic scans obtained for coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, which does not include the aortic arch. This study evaluates TAC prevalence in aortic arch (AAC), ascending (ATAC) and descending thoracic aorta (DTAC) and verify whether they are associated with the same CV risk factors. Cross-sectional analysis, including 2427 participants (mean age 55.6 ± 8.7; 54.1% women) of the ELSA-Brasil cohort. Nonenhanced ECG-gated tomographies were performed in 2015–2016. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the CV risk factors associated with calcium in each segment. Overall prevalence of ATAC, AAC and DTAC was, 23.1%, 62.1%, and 31.2%, respectively. About 90.4% of the individuals with TAC had AAC and only 19.5% had calcium in all segments. In the multivariable analysis, increasing age, lower levels of schooling, current smoking, higher body mass index, and hypertension remained associated with calcium in all segments. No sex or race/ethnicity differences were found in any aortic segment. Diabetes and dyslipidemia were associated with ATAC and DTAC, but not with AAC, suggesting that AAC may reflect an overlap of mechanisms that impact vascular health, including atherosclerosis.

Endothelial Dysfunction Is Associated with Cerebrovascular Events in Pre-Dialysis CKD Patients: A Prospective Study

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have markedly increased rates of end stage renal disease, major adverse cardiovascular/cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), and mortality. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is an early marker of atherosclerosis that is emerging as an increasingly important non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor in CKD. There is a lack of clinical studies examining the association between ED and both cardiovascular and renal endpoints in patients with CKD. Aims: We examined the association between reactive hyperemia index (RHI), a validated measure of endothelial function measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in pre-dialysis CKD patients and prospectively evaluated the role of RHI as predictor of renal and cardiovascular outcomes in this population. Methods: One hundred and twenty pre-dialysis patients with CKD stages 1 to 5 (CKD group) and 18 healthy kidney donor candidates (control group) were recruited and had a successful RHI measurement by PAT. General demographic and clinical information including traditional cardiovascular risk factors were registered from all participants. Thereafter, patients were prospectively followed-up for a median time of 47 (IQR 19–66) months to determine associations of RHI with renal outcomes, MACCEs, hospitalizations or mortality. Results: In the CKD patient population, the mean age was 57.7 ± 15.5 years, the mean eGFR was 54.9 ± 36.7 mL/min/1.73 m² (CKD-EPI) and 57 were males (47.5%). At baseline, in univariate analysis, RHI in the CKD group correlated positively with eGFR (r = 0.332, p < 0.0001) and correlated negatively with age (r = −0.469, p < 0.0001), Charlson index (r = −0.399, p < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (r = −0.256, p = 0.005), and proteinuria (r = 0.211, p = 0.027). Reactive hyperemia index in the control group did not significantly differ from RHI observed in patients with CKD stages 1 to 5 (2.09 ± 0.40 vs. 2.01 ± 0.06, p = 0.493). In adjusted analysis, only age (β = −0.014, p = 0.003) remained independently associated with RHI at baseline. During follow-up, 8 patients suffered a MACCEs, 33 patients experienced renal function deterioration, 17 patients were hospitalized for medical reasons and 6 patients died. RHI at baseline was not significantly associated with CKD progression (1.94 vs. 2.02, p = 0.584), hospitalizations (1.90 vs. 2.04, p = 0.334), and all-cause mortality (1.65 vs. 2.01, p = 0.208) or MACCEs (1.77 vs. 2.01, p = 0.356), but was significantly associated with cerebrovascular events (1.27 vs. 2.02, p = 0.004) and with a composite cardiovascular outcome (MACCEs, hospital admissions and death; 1.73 vs. 2.07, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Our results suggest that RHI may be a predictor for the development of cerebrovascular events in pre-dialysis CKD patients who may benefit from more aggressive preventive measures.

Association of endothelial dysfunction with incident prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and related traits: the KORA F4/FF4 study

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) is an operator-independent and non-invasive measurement method to assess microvascular endothelial function in the fingertips. PAT-derived measures of endothelial function were associated with type 2 diabetes in cross-sectional studies. However, longitudinal studies are lacking. The study aims to investigate the association of two PAT-derived endothelial function parameters reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and mean baseline amplitude (MBA) with follow-up glucose and insulin parameters and the development of (pre)diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study included 673 participants initially without diabetes (328 men and 345 women) aged 52-71 years from the prospective population-based Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg F4/FF4 cohort study conducted in Southern Germany (baseline examination F4: 2006-2008; follow-up FF4: 2013-2014). An oral glucose tolerance test was performed at baseline and follow-up to define type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function and hemoglobin A1c.

RESULTS

In multivariable adjusted logistic/linear regression models, a 1 SD increase in baseline RHI was inversely associated with incident type 2 diabetes (OR 0.69 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.97)) as well as with fasting insulin (β -0.069 (95% CI -0.131 to -0.007)) and HOMA-IR (β -0.072 (95% CI -0.133 to -0.010)) at follow-up in participants with initial normoglycemia. A 1 SD increase in baseline MBA was positively associated with incident (pre)diabetes (OR 1.62 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.11)) and fasting glucose (β 0.096 (95% CI 0.047 to 0.146)) at follow-up in participants with initial normoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction seems to be involved in the development of early derangements in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance and could thereby trigger the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Peripheral arterial endothelial dysfunction predicts future cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with albuminuria: a prospective cohort study

Background

Reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) is a noninvasive and simple test for evaluating the endothelial function. There has been sparse evidence on the usefulness of the RH-PAT index (RHI) in predicting future cardiovascular diseases among diabetic patients.

Methods

Asymptomatic diabetic patients with albuminuria were selected; their medical history and laboratory findings were evaluated every 3 to 4 months, respectively. The primary outcome was a composite of three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3-point MACE): death from cardiovascular causes, acute coronary events, or nonfatal stroke. On the contrary, secondary outcomes included a composite of 3-point MACE, hospitalization for heart failure, or chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. RHI was measured using the Endo-PAT2000 at the baseline. RHI < 1.67 was considered to indicate peripheral endothelial dysfunction (PED).

Results

In total, 149 subjects were included (mean age, 61.8 ± 9.2 years; duration of diabetes was 12 years). During the follow-up period (median, 49.7 months), of the 149 subjects, primary outcomes were detected in 12 (1 [2.3%] and 11 [10.5%] of those without and with PED, respectively). The presence of PED in baseline measurements significantly increased both primary and secondary outcomes, following adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, glycated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, overt proteinuria, duration of diabetes, premedical history of ischemic events, anti-platelet agents, and smoking history (hazard ratio [HR]: 10.95; 95% confidence interval CI 1.00–119.91 for the primary outcome; HR, 4.12; 95% CI 1.37–12.41 for secondary outcome). In addition, PED could predict secondary outcomes independent of the risk score according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (HR: 3.24; 95% CI 1.14–9.17).

Conclusions

PED can independently predict future cardiovascular events among diabetic patients with albuminuria.

The effect of intramuscular megadose of vitamin D injections on E-selectin, CRP and biochemical parameters in vitamin D-deficient patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory processes has been shown to be associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in which vitamin D supplementation might exert beneficial outcomes. We examined the effects of vitamin D supplement on inflammatory and cell adhesion molecule in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

This study consisted of 50 patients with T2DM who had vitamin D deficiency. Participants were randomized into two groups of 25 in which the intervention group received two intramuscular injections of a 200000-IU vitamin D supplement, one at week 0 and another at week 4. The concentrations of fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, liver enzymes, E-selectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), calcium, phosphorus, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and anthropometric indices were obtained before and after 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Vitamin D resulted in significant reductions in CRP(P = 0.01) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels(P = 0.03) and significant increases in 25(OH)D concentrations(P = 0.01) in the intervention group compared with the control. Within-group comparisons showed that FBG decreased significantly in the intervention group(P = 0.04). No significant changes were observed regarding within- and between-group comparisons of the other markers.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D had beneficial effects on the levels of CRP, serum 25(OH)D and GGT among vitamin D deficient patients with T2DM. (http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017100336539N1).

Relation of Thoracic Aortic and Coronary Artery Calcium to Cardiovascular Risk Factors (from The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health [ELSA-Brazil])

Thoracic aortic calcium (TAC) and coronary artery calcium (CAC) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. However, risk factors associated with arterial calcium may vary across vascular beds. We verified whether TAC is associated with the same risk factors as is CAC in adults without established CVD. Cross-sectional analysis including 2,433 participants (aged 38 to 78 years) of ELSA-Brasil cohort in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Nonenhanced ECG-gated multislice computed tomography were performed to detect calcium in the thoracic aorta and the coronaries (2015 to 2016). Multivariate logistic regression evaluated the associations of both TAC and CAC with CVD risk factors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol intake, family history of CVD, low-density lipoprotein- and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, HbA1c, blood pressure, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and lipid lowering medications). Overall prevalence of TAC and CAC were 69% and 43%, respectively. CAC prevalence was lower among women (31%) than men (56%) (Adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.30; 0.24 to 0.38). After adjustments, black individuals were less likely to have any CAC as compared with whites (OR 0.63; 0.47 to 0.86). Neither sex, nor race/skin color were statistically associated with TAC. Use of antidiabetic medications remained associated with CAC (OR 1.80; 1.23 to 2.631.01), but not with TAC. All other risk factors, except education, alcohol, physical activity and HbA1c, persisted statistically associated with both TAC and CAC in the final analysis, with small differences in the magnitudes of the ORs. In conclusion, the only disagreements seen in the risk factors associated with CAC and TAC were sex, race/skin color, and use of antidiabetic medications.

Association between healthy vascular aging and the risk of the first stroke in a community-based Chinese cohort

In this study we tested whether vascular aging is associated with the risk of first stroke in the Kailuan cohort, a community-based Chinese cohort. For participants aged ≥ 50 years, healthy vascular aging (HVA) was defined as an absence of hypertension and a brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity < the mean + 2 standard deviations, which was determined from a reference sample of healthy participants aged < 30 years. The primary outcome was first stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). In total, 11,474 participants were enrolled. The prevalence of HVA decreased from 36.0% in participants aged 50-59 years to 4.7% in those aged ≥ 70 years. During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, the incidence of first stroke was 0.5% in the HVA group but was 2.6% in the Non-HVA group. After adjusting for confounding variables, HVA was associated with a 0.32-fold lower risk of first stroke compared to the Non-HVA group (95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.56; p < 0.001). It thus appears that HVA reduced the risk of first stroke in a community-based Chinese population. This suggests that evaluation of vascular aging as part of public health screening may be useful for stroke risk assessment.

Digital microvascular reactivity does not decline with impaired renal function in chronic kidney disease

Background

The reactive hyperemia index (RHI), measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), is a novel measurement of endothelial function and has been proven to be valuable in cardiovascular risk stratification in several populations. The current study aims to explore its relation to renal function and its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

Subjects with non-dialysis dependent CKD were recruited and 252 of them had a successful PAT test. In addition to general demographic and medical information, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (crPWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were recorded.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 57.7 (±14.7) years and 155 (61.5%) were males. The average RHI was 1.92 (±14.7) with no difference noted between males and females. There was no statistically significant correlation between RHI and eGFR (r = − 0.107, p = 0.089) or urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (r = 0.036, p = 0.570). With adjustment for age and sex, RHI was associated with systolic blood pressure (BP) (β = 0.006, p = 0.001), diastolic BP (β = 0.008, p = 0.010), heart rate (β = − 0.007, p = 0.015) crPWV (β = 0.037, p = 0.022) and AIx (β = 0.006, p = 0.001), but not with cfPWV or any other conventional risk factors analyzed. Systolic BP remained the only predictor for RHI in the stepwise regression analysis.

Conclusions

RHI did not decline with reduced renal function in CKD patients and had a modest association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies are warranted to determine if RHI could predict cardiovascular outcome in CKD patients.

The effect of treatment response on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in depression. A prospective study

BACKGROUND

Major depression is associated with endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffening, which may mediate development of hypertension and increased cardiovascular risk. The effect of response to antidepressant treatment on these vascular parameters has not been elucidated.

AIMS

We aimed to assess the net effect of antidepressant therapy on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with psychotic depression.

METHOD

Thirty-seven patients with major psychotic depression, according to DSM-IV-TR, were treated with titrated citalopram 20-60 mg and risperidone 0.5-1 mg and were followed for 6 months. Twelve additional patients who denied treatment, or were non-compliant, were also followed for the same time period. Vascular function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI), at baseline and at the end of follow-up.

RESULTS

Aortic and peripheral blood pressure (BP), PWV, FMD and AI (p < 0.05 for all) were significantly improved in the group that received treatment. Overall, only responders to treatment (n = 24) presented significant improvements in all hemodynamic and vascular parameters (p < 0.05 for all), irrespectively of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (TRFs), vasoactive medication and BP lowering. In a secondary analysis, patients with psychotic depression presented worse endothelial function as compared to controls matched for TRFs.

LIMITATIONS

Non-randomized study.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who respond to therapy for major psychotic depression present sustained improvement in vascular function. Given that depressed patients are considered to be at high cardiovascular risk and are often non-compliant with treatment, further research to assess cardiovascular benefits of vigilant monitoring of antidepressant therapy is warranted.

Cardiovascular injury induced by tobacco products: assessment of risk factors and biomarkers of harm. A Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science compilation

Although substantial evidence shows that smoking is positively and robustly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), the CVD risk associated with the use of new and emerging tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes, hookah, and heat-not-burn products, remains unclear. This uncertainty stems from lack of knowledge on how the use of these products affects cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular injury associated with the use of new tobacco products could be evaluated by measuring changes in biomarkers of cardiovascular harm that are sensitive to the use of combustible cigarettes. Such cardiovascular injury could be indexed at several levels. Preclinical changes contributing to the pathogenesis of disease could be monitored by measuring changes in systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, organ-specific dysfunctions could be gauged by measuring endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation), platelet aggregation, and arterial stiffness, and organ-specific injury could be evaluated by measuring endothelial microparticles and platelet-leukocyte aggregates. Classical risk factors, such as blood pressure, circulating lipoproteins, and insulin resistance, provide robust estimates of risk, and subclinical disease progression could be followed by measuring coronary artery Ca2+ and carotid intima-media thickness. Given that several of these biomarkers are well-established predictors of major cardiovascular events, the association of these biomarkers with the use of new and emerging tobacco products could be indicative of both individual and population-level CVD risk associated with the use of these products. Differential effects of tobacco products (conventional vs. new and emerging products) on different indexes of cardiovascular injury could also provide insights into mechanisms by which they induce cardiovascular harm.

Arterial stiffness in elderly patients with normotension and hypertension in Brazil

Data on arterial stiffness in older populations, according to blood pressure (BP) levels, are scarce in Brazil. The objective of this study was to establish reference values for core measures of arterial stiffness, including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and aortic augmentation index (AIx), in a cohort of older individuals with normotension (NT) and hypertension. Cross-sectional analysis was performed with applanation tonometry data from 1192 patients aged 60 years or older. The authors classified patients according to their BP levels as having NT, controlled hypertension (CH), and uncontrolled hypertension (UH). The cf-PWV values were 9.11 ± 0.16 m/s (NT), 9.12 ± 0.18 m/s (CH), and 9.42 ± 2.2 m/s (UH) (P < 0.005; UH vs NT and CH). The AIx was 33.3% for the entire cohort and similar across all groups. The cf-PWV increased with age but reached a ceiling at 75 years. Compared with men, women had a higher AIx but similar cf-PWV levels. In conclusion, the markers of arterial stiffness were similar among individuals with NT/CH and higher among individuals with UH.

Characterizing the relationship between flow-mediated vasodilation and radial artery tonometry in peripheral artery disease

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffness, measured by the augmentation index (AIX) from radial artery tonometry, and endothelial dysfunction, measured by brachial-artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), have each been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, their interrelationship in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients is poorly understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional analysis of 123 vascular surgery outpatients, the association between FMD and AIX was examined in controls with atherosclerotic risk factors (n = 32) and patients with PAD (n = 91). PAD was defined as claudication symptoms with an ankle-brachial index of <0.9 or a history of revascularization for symptomatic PAD. Controls had an ankle-brachial index ≥0.9 and no history of atherosclerotic vascular disease.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients with PAD had lower FMD (6.3 ± 3.8 versus 8.4 ± 3.7, P = 0.008), while central AIX normalized to 75 beats per minute (25.5 ± 9.0 versus 19.3 ± 8.6, P = 0.001) and peripheral AIX (91.3 ± 14.5 versus 81.3 ± 11.4, P = 0.001) were higher. FMD was not significantly correlated with either central or peripheral AIX (central AIX: P = 0.58; peripheral AIX: P = 0.89) across the entire cohort, or in either the patients with PAD (central AIX: P = 0.48; peripheral AIX: P = 0.23) or controls (central AIX: P = 0.43; peripheral AIX: P = 0.92). In a multivariate model including FMD, higher AIX remained independently associated with PAD.

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of vascular surgery outpatients, no correlation between FMD and AIX was detected. Larger prospective studies are needed to determine whether the inclusion of both parameters improves predictive models for the early identification and potential risk stratification of PAD patients.

Microvascular endothelial function and cognitive performance: The ELSA-Brasil cohort study

Impaired microvascular endothelial function may be implicated in the etiology of cognitive decline. Yet, current data on this association are inconsistent. Our objective is to investigate the relation of microvascular endothelial function to cognitive performance in the ELSA-Brasil cohort study. A total of 1521 participants from ELSA-Brasil free of dementia underwent peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) to quantify microvascular endothelial function (PAT-ratio and mean baseline pulse amplitude (BPA)) and cognitive tests that covered the domains of memory, verbal fluency, and executive function at baseline. Cognitive tests in participants aged 55 years old and above were repeated during the second examination (mean follow-up: 3.5 (0.3) years). Linear regression and generalized linear models were used to evaluate the association between endothelial function, global cognitive performance, and performance on specific cognitive domains. In unadjusted cross-sectional analyses, we found that BPA and PAT-ratio were associated with worse global cognitive performance (mean difference for BPA: -0.07, 95% CI: -0.11; -0.03, p<0.01; mean difference for PAT-ratio: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01; 0.20, p=0.02), worse performance on learning, recall, and word recognition tests (BPA: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.21; -0.52, p<0.01; PAT-ratio: 1.58, 95% CI: 0.80; 2.36, p<0.01), and only BPA was associated with worse performance in verbal fluency tests (-0.70, 95% CI: -1.19; -0.21, p<0.01). Adjustments for age, sex, and level of education rendered the associations statistically non-significant. Longitudinally, there was no association between microvascular endothelial and cognitive functions. The associations between microvascular endothelial function and cognition are explained by age, sex, and educational level. Measures of microvascular endothelial function may be of limited value with regard to preclinical cognitive deficits.

Microvascular endothelial function in Japanese early adolescents

Endothelial dysfunction is the early predictive factor for the development of atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in children and early adolescents is increasing worldwide. Peripheral arterial tonometry is a noninvasive technique for assessing peripheral microvascular function and is used as a validated marker of endothelial function. We assessed anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and peripheral endothelial function in 157 Japanese early adolescents (75 boys and 82 girls). We measured peripheral endothelial function by using peripheral arterial tonometry to determine the reactive hyperemia index, and assessed the association of reactive hyperemia index with parameters of anthropometry and arterial stiffness. The mean reactive hyperemia index of all subjects was 1.85 ± 0.6, and there was no difference of reactive hyperemia index according to sex. Reactive hyperemia index was significantly associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and had no correlation with anthropometric parameters and arterial stiffness markers. The reactive hyperemia index values among Japanese early adolescents were similar to those reported in previous studies on children and early adolescents. This noninvasive technique may be useful for the assessment of microvascular endothelial function among children and early adolescents.

Association between arterial stiffness and peripheral artery disease as measured by radial artery tonometry

OBJECTIVE

Arterial stiffness and peripheral artery disease (PAD) are both associated with an elevated risk of major adverse cardiac events; however, the association between arterial stiffness and PAD is less well characterized. The goal of this study was to examine the association between parameters of radial artery tonometry, a noninvasive measure of arterial stiffness, and PAD.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 134 vascular surgery outpatients (controls, 33; PAD, 101) using arterial applanation tonometry. Central augmentation index (AIX) normalized to 75 beats/min and peripheral AIX were measured using radial artery pulse wave analysis. Pulse wave velocity was recorded at the carotid and femoral arteries. PAD was defined as symptomatic claudication with an ankle-brachial index of <0.9 or a history of peripheral revascularization. Controls had no history of atherosclerotic vascular disease and an ankle-brachial index ≥0.9.

RESULTS

Among the 126 participants with high-quality tonometry data, compared with controls (n = 33), patients with PAD (n = 93) were older, with higher rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking (P < .05). Patients with PAD also had greater arterial stiffness as measured by central AIX, peripheral AIX, and pulse wave velocity (P < .05). In a multivariable model, a significantly increased odds of PAD was associated with each 10-unit increase in central AIX (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.9; P = .03) and peripheral AIX (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.2; P = .01). In addition, central and peripheral AIX were highly correlated (r₁₂₀ = 0.76; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a cross-sectional analysis, arterial stiffness as measured by the AIX is independently associated with PAD, even when adjusting for several atherosclerotic risk factors. Further prospective data are needed to establish whether radial artery tonometry could be a tool for risk stratification in the PAD population.

Reactive Hyperemia Index in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: Cross-sectional Data from a Cohort Study

Previous studies suggested that the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) is a promising cardiovascular risk predictor. We aimed to evaluate clinical determinants of RHI and its association with circulating endothelial injury and cardiac markers in hemodialysis patients. Among 368 patients recruited, RHI was evaluated by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) on a midweek nondialysis day. Clinical determinants of RHI were explored by multiple stepwise regression analysis and associations between RHI and circulating markers were evaluated by general linear models. The major cause of a failed PAT test was poor signal (82.1%). Intraclass correlation coefficient for reproducibility evaluation was 0.74. Multiple regression analysis showed traditional clinical factors only explained 7% of the variance of natural logarithm RHI (LnRHI) in the patients. In association analyses, LnRHI showed significant positive associations with Von Willebrand factor (vWF) (p = 0.04) and tissue factor (p = 0.047). It also associated positively with troponins (p ≤ 0.02 for both). In conclusion, performance of the PAT test was acceptable in dialysis patients and traditional clinical variables had very limited influence on RHI in these subjects. Among a panel of conventional endothelial injury markers, RHI showed very modest associations with only vWF and tissue factor. RHI associated positively with troponins in the patients.

Relations of Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity to Digital Vascular Function in Three Community-Based Cohorts: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Microvascular dysfunction is a marker of early vascular disease that predicts cardiovascular events. Whether metabolically healthy obese individuals have impaired microvascular function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of obesity phenotypes stratified by metabolic status to microvascular function.

Methods and Results

We meta‐analyzed aggregate data from 3 large cohorts (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, the Framingham Heart Study, and the Gutenberg Heart Study; n=16 830 participants, age range 19–90, 51.3% men). Regression slopes between cardiovascular risk factors and microvascular function, measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), were calculated. Individuals were classified as normal‐weight, overweight, or obese by body mass index (BMI) and stratified by healthy or unhealthy metabolic status based on metabolic syndrome using the ATP‐III criteria. Male sex, BMI, and metabolic risk factors were associated with higher baseline pulse amplitude and lower PAT ratio. There was stepwise impairment of vascular measures from normal weight to obesity in both metabolic status strata. Metabolically healthy obese individuals had more impaired vascular function than metabolically healthy normal‐weight individuals (baseline pulse amplitude 6.12±0.02 versus 5.61±0.01; PAT ratio 0.58±0.01 versus 0.76±0.01, all P<0.0001). Metabolically unhealthy obese individuals had more impaired vascular function than metabolically healthy obese individuals (baseline pulse amplitude 6.28±0.01 versus 6.12±0.02; PAT ratio 0.49±0.01 versus 0.58±0.01, all P<0.0001).

Conclusions

Metabolically healthy obese individuals have impaired microvascular function, though the degree of impairment is less marked than in metabolically unhealthy obese individuals. Our findings suggest that obesity is detrimental to vascular health irrespective of metabolic status.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Racial Disparities in Mortality and Adverse Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The contribution of arterial endothelial dysfunction (ED) to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Blacks is not known.

HYPOTHESIS

We investigated whether peripheral arterial ED explains racial disparity in CVD events.

METHODS

Data from the Heart Strategies Concentrating on Risk Evaluation (Heart SCORE) study was used. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by the Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI), measured using pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT). Lower values of fRHI indicate more severe ED. The primary outcome of interest was combined CVD events and all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

1454 individuals (62% female, 40% Black, mean age 59 ± 8 years) had available data on fRHI (mean [SD]: 0.74 [0.46]). Over a mean follow-up period of 8.0 ± 2.4 years (11,186 person-years), 116 events were observed. Black race, male sex, smoking, diabetes, blood pressure, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 were inversely correlated with fRHI in univariate models. In an unadjusted Cox regression model, fRHI was associated with 20% lower risk of the primary outcome events (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-SD higher fRHI: 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-0.97). However, this association was no longer significant after adjustment for CVD risk factors (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74-1.11). In an age- and sex-adjusted model, Blacks had 1.68 (95% CI: 1.16-2.43) higher risk of primary outcome compared with Whites. This association was not significantly attenuated by addition of fRHI to the multivariable models.

CONCLUSION

Black race is associated with increased risk of CVD events and mortality independent of its associations with ED, as measured by PAT.