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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and vascular stiffness and metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as its components in individuals over the age of 65, overall and by sex. Methods: The subjects of the study were people over 65 years of age, with a full record of all variables analyzed from the EVA, MARK, and EVIDENT studies. Data from 1280 subjects with a mean age of 69.52 ± 3.58 years (57.5% men) were analyzed. The MD was recorded with the validated 14 item MEDAS questionnaire. MetS was defined following the guidelines of the joint scientific statement from the Programa Nacional de Educación sobre el Colesterol III. Vascular stiffness was evaluated with the VaSera VS-1500® device by measuring the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Results: The mean MEDAS score was 6.00 ± 1.90, (5.92 ± 1.92 in males, 6.11 ± 1.88 in females; p = 0.036). CAVI: 9.30 ± 1.11 (9.49 ± 1.05 males, 9.03 ± 1.13 females; p = <0.001). baPWV: 15.82 ± 2.56 (15.75 ± 2.46 males, 15.92 ± 2.68 females; p = <0.001). MetS was found in 51% (49% males, 54% females; p = 0.036). Subjects with MetS had lower MD adherence and higher vascular stiffness values than subjects without MetS. Overall, we found a negative association with MD score and the number of MetS components (β = −0.168), with glycemia (β = −0.007), triglycerides (β = −0.003), waist circumference (β = −0.018), CAVI (β = −0.196) and baPWV (β = −0.065), and a positive association with HDL cholesterol (β = 0.013). Regarding sex, associations followed the same direction but without reaching statistical significance with blood glucose and triglycerides in females and with HDL cholesterol and waist circumference in males. Conclusions: The results indicate that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet decreases vascular stiffness and the percentage of subjects with MetS, although results differed in the association with MetS components by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effect of Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asia (OSTA) index on brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and its predictive value for peripheral atherosclerosis in menopausal women. Methods A total of 1 138 menopausal women who underwent physical examination at our hospital from January 2022 to December 2022 were enrolled in the study. General clinical data were collected, the OSTA index was calculated, and baPWV was measured. Patients were divided into the control group (n=539) and the peripheral atherosclerosis group (n=599) according to the baPWV values (peripheral atherosclerosis occurs with baPWV ≥1 400 cm/s). Linear regression and Logistic regression were used to analyze the effect of OSTA index on baPWV in menopausal women. The predictive value of peripheral atherosclerosis was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The OSTA index was lower in the peripheral atherosclerosis group than that in the control group [-0.40 (-2.20, 1.00) vs. 0.40 (-0.60, 1.40), P＜0.05]. Univariate linear regression analysis was used to conclude that the OSTA index was an influencing factor of baPWV, and after correcting for risk factors, multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that OSTA index still affected the value of baPWV (P＜0.05). The linear regression equation was baPWV= -27.911-39.752×OSTA+6.444×SBP+7.008×DBP+11.506×HCY+27.942×Hs-CRP. Logistic regression analysis suggested that increased OSTA index was a protective factor for peripheral atherosclerosis (OR= 0.664, 95%CI: 0.535-0.823, P＜0.001). ROC curve analysis suggested that OSTA index was -1.25 as the optimal cutoff point, which predicted peripheral atherosclerosis with an area under the curve of 0.619, a sensitivity of 36.2% and a specificity of 86.3%. Conclusion In menopausal women, OSTA index is an influential factor for baPWV, and increased OSTA index is a protective factor against peripheral atherosclerosis, which can be used to predict baPWV value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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

Background: Reproductive hormones may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but their influence is often underestimated. Obesity can exacerbate the progression of CVD. Arterial stiffness (AS) is correlated with the risk of CVD. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) has served as a practical tool for assessing AS with broad clinical applications. This study aimed to investigate the association between reproductive hormones and baPWV in obese male and female subjects. Methods: A retrospective case–control design was designed. AS was assessed using baPWV, with a baPWV ≥ 1400 cm/s indicating increased AS. Between September 2018 and October 2022, 241 obese subjects with increased AS were recruited from Ningbo Yinzhou No. 2 Hospital. The control group consisted of 241 obese subjects without increased AS. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to correct potential confounders by age and sex. We additionally performed a sex-based sub-analysis. Results: Correlation analysis demonstrated that luteinizing hormone (LH) (r = 0.214, P = 0.001) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (r = 0.328, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with baPWV in obese male subjects. In the multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis, FSH (OR = 1.407, 95% CI = 1.040–1.902, P = 0.027) rather than LH (OR = 1.210, 95% CI = 0.908–1.612, P = 0.194) was independently and positively associated with increased AS in obese male subjects. However, there was no significant correlation between reproductive hormones and baPWV in women. Conclusions: Our study identified FSH as a potential risk factor for arteriosclerosis in obese male subjects. This provides a novel and intriguing perspective on the pathogenesis of CVD in obese subjects.

Abstract Aims As a potential surrogate of carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been confirmed to independently predict the cardiovascular events, but the association between ePWV and heart failure has not been well confirmed. Therefore, we performed this cohort study to evaluate the association between ePWV and risk of new‐onset heart failure. Methods and results A total of 98 269 employees (mean age: 51.77 ± 12.56 years, male accounted for 79.9%) without prior heart failure who participated in the 2006–2007 health examination were selected as the observation cohort, with an average follow‐up of 13.85 ± 1.40 years. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of ePWV was calculated in prediction of heart failure. The adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The category‐free net reclassification index (NRI) was calculated to evaluate the reclassification performance of cardiovascular risk models after adding ePWV. The AUC of ePWV was 0.74 in prediction of heart failure. After adjusting for the traditional cardiovascular risk factors except for age and blood pressure, the risk of new‐onset heart failure increased by 35% [hazard ratio (HR): 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33–1.37] for each 1 m/s increase in ePWV. Subgroup analysis showed that ePWV was significantly associated with incident heart failure regardless of THE presence (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.31–1.36, P

Aims: As a potential surrogate of carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been confirmed to independently predict the cardiovascular events, but the association between ePWV and heart failure has not been well confirmed. Therefore, we performed this cohort study to evaluate the association between ePWV and risk of new‐onset heart failure. Methods and results: A total of 98 269 employees (mean age: 51.77 ± 12.56 years, male accounted for 79.9%) without prior heart failure who participated in the 2006–2007 health examination were selected as the observation cohort, with an average follow‐up of 13.85 ± 1.40 years. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of ePWV was calculated in prediction of heart failure. The adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The category‐free net reclassification index (NRI) was calculated to evaluate the reclassification performance of cardiovascular risk models after adding ePWV. The AUC of ePWV was 0.74 in prediction of heart failure. After adjusting for the traditional cardiovascular risk factors except for age and blood pressure, the risk of new‐onset heart failure increased by 35% [hazard ratio (HR): 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33–1.37] for each 1 m/s increase in ePWV. Subgroup analysis showed that ePWV was significantly associated with incident heart failure regardless of THE presence (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.31–1.36, P < 0.01) or absence (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.46–1.73, P < 0.01) of cardiovascular risk factors, male (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.31–1.36, P < 0.01) or female (HR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.38–1.51, P < 0.01), young and middle‐aged (<52 years) (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.41–1.58, P < 0.01), or middle‐aged and elderly (≥52 years) (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.21–1.26, P < 0.01). The addition of ePWV to the traditional cardiovascular risk model including age and mean arterial pressure could significantly improve the reclassification ability by 31.1% (category‐free NRI = 0.311, P < 0.01). Conclusions: ePWV was an independent predictor for new‐onset heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome severity z score(MetS-Z) and arterial stiffness(AS). A total of 7621 participants who took three physical examination and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(ba-pwv) test from 2006 were enrolled. Cumulative MetS-Z(cMetS-Z) was calculated by using blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood glucose and BMI. AS was assessed by ba-pwv. Cox regression model was used to evaluate the risk of AS. All participants were divided into four groups according to cMetS-Z(Q1-Q4). The average age of the participants was 43.06 ± 8.91 years old. During a median follow-up of 6.27 years, 1831cases of AS were identified. The incident rate of AS increased gradually from group Q1 to Q4. Compared with the lowest cMetS-Z(group Q1), the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of group Q2-Q4 for AS were 1.27 (1.09–1.47),1.28(1.10–1.48) and 1.45 (1.24–1.69) respectively. The cubic spline model indicated cMetS-Z had a liner relationship with AS and the cut-off value was lower than zero. Sub-group analysis suggested cMetS-Z was related to AS especially among participants who were younger and without obesity or hypertension or diabetes. Higher cMetS-Z was associated with an increased risk of AS in this cohort community study, and this relationship seemed to be stronger among normal healthy subjects. ChiCTR-TNC-11001489. January 1st 2006, ChiCTR-TNC-11001489 and 2011. • Elevated metabolic syndrome severity score was related with an increased risk of arterial stiffness among Chinese. • There was a liner-relationship between metabolic syndrome severity score and the risk of arterial stiffness. • Metabolic syndrome severity score could predict the risk of future arterial stiffness. • Metabolic syndrome severity score was more applicable among general population with "normal" metabolic status to assess arterial stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study aimed to examine whether baseline atherosclerosis was associated with subsequent short‐term domain‐specific cognitive decline. Methods and Results This research was based on the BRAVE (Beijing Research on Aging and Vessel) study, a population‐based prospective cohort study of adults aged 40 to 80 years, free of dementia. At baseline (wave 1, 2019), cognitive assessments and atherosclerosis measures, including carotid intima‐media thickness, carotid plaques, coronary artery calcification, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity were conducted. Cognitive function was reassessed in wave 2 (2022–2023) using linear mixed models for analysis. A total of 932 participants (63.7% women; mean age, 60.0±6.9 years) were included. Compared with the lowest tertile of carotid intima‐media thickness, carotid plaques, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, or a coronary artery calcification score=0, the highest tertile of carotid intima‐media thickness (β=−0.065 SD/y [95% CI, −0.112 to −0.017]; P=0.008), carotid plaques (β=−0.070 SD/y [95% CI, −0.130 to −0.011]; P=0.021), and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (β=−0.057 SD/y [95% CI, −0.105 to −0.010]; P=0.018), and a coronary artery calcification score≥400 (β=−0.081 SD/y [95% CI, −0.153 to −0.008]; P=0.029) were significantly associated with a faster decline in semantic fluency after multivariable adjustment. Moreover, greater carotid intima‐media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity were significantly associated with a faster decline in global cognition. Conclusions More significant atherosclerosis was associated with faster semantic fluency and global cognition declines.

Chenxi Li,1,&ast; Xiaolei Chen,2,&ast; Xiaowen Zhu,1 Mengjiao Cao,3 Qunfeng Tang,3 Wenjun Wu1,4 1Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People’s Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People’s Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 4Jinshan Branch of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wenjun Wu, Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People’s Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214023, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-15358008856, Fax +86-510-85737592, Email wuwenjung@163.comPurpose: Arterial stiffness is often increased in overweight or obese individuals before the development of hypertension (HT). This study aimed to determine the connection between pancreatic fat and atherosclerosis in overweight and obese people without HT.Patients and methods: We included 128 patients who were non-hypertensive and overweight or obese in a study between December 2019 and November 2022. Medical history was collected, and all participants underwent a physical examination and blood tests. Pancreatic fat content was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and was grouped into quartiles based on pancreatic fat fraction (PFF). The upper three quartiles (PFF≥ 10.33%) were defined as non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD) and the first quartile (PFF< 10.33%) as non-NAFPD. High baPWV (H-baPWV) and low baPWV (L-baPWV) were classified according to the median baPWV (1159 cm/s). The effect of NAFPD on baPWV was examined using binary logistic regression. The study population consisted of 96 NAFPD and 32 non-NAFPD cases.Results: Participants with NAFPD had significantly higher levels of baPWV than people without. The rates of NAFPD and the PFF values varied significantly in the L-baPWV and H-baPWV groups. Logistic regression analysis suggested that the presence of NAFPD was independently correlated with increased baPWV after adjusting for age, smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and glycemic index.Conclusion: NAFPD is an independent risk factor for increased baPWV in individuals with overweight and obesity but no HT, suggesting that the presence of NAFPD may be a warning signal of early atherosclerosis.Keywords: obesity, non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease, overweight, arterial stiffness, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

This study aimed to investigate whether baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) could serve as a reliable metric for assessing cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and concurrently act as a surrogate biomarker for evaluating the severity of arterial stiffness and CAN in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Participants underwent brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as well as autonomic function evaluations encompassing the Sudoscan-based modified composite autonomic scoring scale (CASS), baroreflex sensitivity, and heart rate variability in time domains and frequency domains. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of independent variables on baPWV and modified CASS. Participants with higher baPWV values were older, with longer diabetes duration, lower body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure. They also exhibited a higher prevalence of retinopathy as the underlying disease and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age and BRS were significantly associated with baPWV while diabetes duration, UACR, and BRS were significantly associated with modified CASS. Our study confirms the significant association of BRS with baPWV and modified CASS in T2DM, highlighting its pivotal role in linking microvascular and macrovascular complications. This supports BRS as a surrogate marker for assessing both the severity of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in T2DM, enabling the early identification of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an established independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Osteocalcin (OC) is recognized to be associated with vascular function. The present study assessed the correlation between serum OC levels and peripheral arterial stiffness (PAS) measured through baPWV in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from 120 hypertensive participants. The serum total OC levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, whereas the baPWV device was used to detect PAS. The PAS group had left or right baPWV > 18.0 m/s. Results: Among the hypertensive patients, 24 (20.0%) were classified into the PAS group. The PAS group exhibited a significantly older age (p = 0.011), higher prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.010), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.019), levels of serum fasting glucose (p = 0.003), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.024), creatinine (p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (p = 0.007), OC (p = 0.002), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.004) than the non-PAS group. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.076, 95% CI: 1.004–1.153, p = 0.037) and serum OC level (OR: 1.797, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.077–3.000, p = 0.025) were independent factors linked to PAS in hypertensive patients in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Serum OC levels and older age are positively associated with PAS in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Fat distribution is closely related to vascular stiffness. This study aimed to investigate age and sex differences in fat distribution and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the association between fat parameters and baPWV. Methods A total of 10,811 participants aged 20–59 years were recruited. Measures included waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (PBF), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), visceral fat area (VFA), and baPWV. Results The results confirm that fat accumulates with age and that men tend to carry more abdominal fat than women in the same age group. The findings also indicate that baPWV increases with age and is significantly higher in men than in women in the same age group. In addition, WHR, VFA, and baPWV were more strongly correlated than baPWV and BMI, SFA, and PBF. Finally, the effects of age, PBF, WHR, and VFA on baPWV were greater for the higher quantiles. Conclusions There are age and sex differences in fat distribution and baPWV. Abdominal obesity is more closely linked to arterial stiffness than overall obesity, and people with higher baPWV are more affected by obesity parameters.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: From October 2020 to February 2023, 205 patients who underwent sleep-breathing monitoring at the Jiangbei Campus and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center of Zhongda Hospital were selected. According to the quartile of TyG index, the patients were divided into Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 groups, and according to the sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI), the patients were divided into no OSA plus mild OSA group and moderate plus severe OSA group. The relationships between baPWV and each index were evaluated. Results: Among the 250 OSA patients, the higher the TyG index, the higher the proportion of male and hypertension, the higher levels of the body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, triacylgycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, uric acid, AHI and baPWV (P＜0.05), while the lower values of the age and mean blood oxygen saturation (P＜0.05). Compared with no OSA plus mild OSA group,the age, the proportions of male and hypertension, and levels of BMI, uric acid, AHI, and baPWV increased, while the lowest and average blood oxygen saturation deseased in moderate plus severe OSA group (P＜0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the TyG index and AHI levels (r=0.217, P=0.002). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (β′=0.244， P＜0.01), uric acid (β′=0.140， P=0.013), hypertension (β′=0.128， P=0.016), AHI (β′=0.342， P＜0.01) and TyG index (β′=0.300， P＜0.01) were the influencing factors for baPWV，and AHI had the greatest influence, followed by TyG index. Conclusion: The TyG index is related to the severity of OSA,and TyG index and the severity of OSA affect the level of baPWV. The use of the TyG index may help identify OSA patients and those at high risk of arteriosclerosis.

Introduction: Low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness in participants with kidney damage. It is uncertain whether this association is due to eGFR itself or is mediated by the eGFR-associated increases in fasting blood glucose (FBG). Method: The cross-sectional study included 865 Japanese participants with decreased kidney function, whose eGFR was less than 90 mL/min/1.73 m2, and recruited individuals who received medical healthcare. The mediating variable was FBG, with eGFR as the independent variable and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as the dependent variable. A mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating effect of FBG on the association between eGFR and arterial stiffness. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.69 ± 9.25 years old, with 65.90% individuals being male. The mean values for FBG, eGFR, and baPWV were 5.46 ± 0.79 mmol/L, 68.83 ± 10.05 mL/min/1.73 m2, and 1,423.50 ± 247.78 cm/s, respectively. The mediation analysis revealed that eGFR had a significant direct effect on baPWV (β = −25.68 95% CI: −46.42, −7.45), and that FBG played a partial mediating role in the indirect effect of eGFR on baPWV (β = −3.54 95% CI: −11.88, −0.079). Mediation analysis showed that 12.10% of the effect of eGFR on risk of arterial stiffness was mediated through FBG. Conclusion: The study indicated that there is a mediating relationship between eGFR and FBG in people with decreased kidney function, which is associated with the risk of arterial stiffness. Therefore, the importance of FBG as a mediator should be acknowledged and taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the relationships between exposure to individual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their mixture and arterial stiffness and explore whether adherence to an ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) could mitigate these associations. The cross-sectional study enrolled 1437 Chinese adults between March and May 2019 in Wuhan, China. OCPs and PCBs concentrations were measured using solid phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). CVH was determined by three behavioral and four biological metrics and categorized as ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH. We applied generalized linear model and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to evaluate the associations of exposure to individual OCPs or PCBs and their mixture with baPWV, respectively. We found that participants with detectable levels of heptachlor epoxide, PCB-153, and PCB-180 had higher baPWV (β: 34.25, 95% CI 14.28–54.22; β: 27.64, 95% CI 7.90–47.38; and β: 30.51, 95% CI 10.68–50.35) than those with undetectable levels. In WQS regression, the mixture of OCPs and PCBs was related to a higher baPWV (β: 24.93, 95% CI 2.70–47.15). Compared with participants with ideal CVH and undetectable OCPs or PCBs levels, those with poor CVH and detectable OCPs or PCBs levels had the highest increase in baPWV (heptachlor epoxide: β: 147.94, 95% CI 112.52–183.55; PCB-153: β: 150.22, 95% CI 115.40–185.04; PCB-180: β: 147.02, 95% CI 111.66–182.38). Our findings suggested that individual OCPs, PCBs, and their mixture exposure were positively associated with arterial stiffness, and adherence to an ideal CVH may mitigate the adverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundWhether the estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) in Chinese patients with hypertension can serve as an independent predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality remains unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between ePWV and cardiovascular and all-cause mortalities and explored potential effect modifiers influencing these relationships. Finally, we compared the ePWV with the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) to determine which parameter better predicts mortality.MethodsThe population of this longitudinal cohort study was selected from the China H-type Hypertension Registry Study. The exposure and outcome variables were ePWV and all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities, respectively. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to assess the associations between ePWV and all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. The performances of ePWV and baPWV in predicting death were compared using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area, net reclassification improvement index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI).ResultsThis prospective study enrolled 14,232 patients with hypertension. Following an average follow-up of 48 months, 806 individuals succumbed to all-cause mortality, with 397 cases specifically attributed to cardiovascular diseases. The Cox proportional regression analysis revealed a significant association between a 1 m/s increase in ePWV and a 37% higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31–1.43) as well as a 52% higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43–1.62) in the fully adjusted model. The findings for ePWV according to quartile demonstrated hazard ratios for all-cause mortality for Q2 (10.25

Abstract Background Existing research has established the pepsinogen ratio (PGR) as a complex biomarker, not only as an independent predictor for various gastrointestinal diseases but also in its association with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. However, the precise mechanism linking changes in PGR to cardiovascular pathologies remains unclear. The objective of this study is to quantitatively elucidate the association between PGR and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) as an indicator of atherosclerotic progression. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study that analyzed clinical data from 465 patients who underwent health screenings. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) identified potential risk factors affecting baPWV. Multiple logistic regression was employed to evaluate if PGR serves as an independent risk factor for elevated baPWV after accounting for these variables. Generalized additive models and smoothed curve fitting were utilized to investigate the possibility of a nonlinear association between PGR and baPWV. When such nonlinearity was found, threshold effect analysis pinpointed the inflection point in this relationship, followed by segmented correlation analyses. Results PGR negatively correlated with both right baPWV (RbaPWV) and left baPWV (LbaPWV) after adjusting for confounders. Smoothed curve analyses revealed nonlinear relationships, with inflection points at 22.5 for RbaPWV and 22.3 for LbaPWV. For PGR values below 22.5, a significant negative correlation with RbaPWV was observed (β = − 6.3 cm/s, P

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the association between air pollution and arterial stiffness in Chinese population, and the findings are inconsistent. The problem of multicollinearity exists when modeling multiple air pollutants simultaneously. ObjectiveTo investigate potential association between air quality index (AQI) and population brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Beijing. MethodsThis study retrieved medical examination data of 2971 participants from the Beijing Health Management Cohort, who were under 60 years old and not yet retired, from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019. The most recent medical examination data available were utilized for this analysis. AQI data from 35 air pollution monitoring sites in Beijing and meteorological data (including atmospheric pressure, air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) from 16 meteorological monitoring stations from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 were collected. An average AQI exposure level for 365 d before the date of physical examination for each participant was computed using inverse distance weighting. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between AQI and baPWV in Beijing, after adjusting for confounding variables including age, gender, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, medication history of diabetes, medication history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, education, smoking status, drinking status, and physical activity intensity. Subgroup analysis was performed by age, sex, presence of diabetes, and presence of hypertension. ResultsAQI demonstrated an overall decreasing trend during the study period and was lower in the northern regions and higher in the southern regions of Beijing. After adjusting the confounding variables, each 10 unit increase in AQI was associated with 6.18 (95%CI: 1.25, 11.10) cm·s−1 increase in baPWV in all participants, 8.05 (95%CI: 2.32, 13.79) cm·s−1 increase in the participants 0.05). ConclusionAn increase in long-term AQI levels is associated with an elevation in the degree of arterial stiffness. Individuals under 50 years old, females, without hypertension or diabetes are susceptible populations to arterial stiffness when being exposed to air pollution. Improving air quality may contribute to prevent arterial stiffness.

BackgroundIncreased arterial stiffness and low handgrip strength (HGS) are associated with poor health outcomes and are a severe health risk for older adults. However, there is limited evidence and mixed results on whether there is an association between them. Therefore, this study focused on the association between arterial stiffness and HGS in relatively healthy older adults in Beijing, China.MethodsIn 2016, 2,217 adult volunteers were recruited in Beijing. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and the ankle-brachial index were measured using an automatic vascular profiling system. Carotid artery intima-media thickness and common carotid artery-internal diameter (CCAID) were evaluated using Doppler ultrasound, and HGS was measured with a dynamometer. Low HGS was determined using the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group 2019 criteria. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions evaluated the relationship between arterial stiffness and HGS.ResultsUltimately, 776 relatively healthy older adults (mean age 69.05 ± 6.46 years) were included. Based on the AWGS2019 criteria, 137 participants were defined as having low HGS. Compared to the normal HGS group, the low HGS group was older and had higher baPWV (p

Background and aims: Dyslipidemia is known to contribute to arterial stiffness, while the inverse association remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the association of baseline arterial stiffness and its changes, as determined by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), with dyslipidemia onset in the general population. Methods: This study enrolled participants from Beijing Health Management Cohort using measurements of the first visit from 2012 to 2013 as baseline, and followed until the dyslipidemia onset or the end of 2019. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional regression models were used to evaluate the associations of baseline baPWV and baPWV transition (persistent low, onset, remitted and persistent high) with incident dyslipidemia. Results: Of 4362 individuals (mean age: 55.5 years), 1490 (34.2%) developed dyslipidemia during a median follow-up of 5.9 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants with elevated arterial stiffness at baseline had an increased risk of dyslipidemia (HR, 1.194; 95% CI, 1.050-1.358). Compared with persistent low baPWV, new-onset and persistent high baPWV were associated with a 51.2% and 37.1% excess risk of dyslipidemia. Conclusion: The findings indicated that arterial stiffness is an early risk factor of dyslipidemia, suggesting a bidirectional association between arterial stiffness and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies have confirmed that lipid accumulation products (LAP) predict arterial stiffness (AS) in hypertensive patients. But there is little research on the use of LAP in identifying early atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the LAP index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Chinese patients with T2DM. Methods: A total of 1471 Chinese participants with T2DM, ranging in age from 18 to 80, were included in this cross-sectional study. BaPWV measurements were used to calculate the AS. A baPWV greater than the 75th percentile (1700 cm/s) was defined as indicating increased AS. The LAP index was calculated from the combination of waist circumference (WC) and triglycerides (TG). Results: According to the quartiles of the LAP index, baPWV tended to increase after adjusting for sex and age. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the beta coefficient (β) of baPWV increased by 31.0 cm/s for each unit of lnLAP that was increased, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was (6.5, 55.5) cm/s. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, after fully adjusting for confounders, the risk of elevated baPWV increased with each unit increase in lnLAP, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0, 1.8). According to the generalized additive model (GAM), we found that lnLAP was positively correlated with baPWV and baPWV elevation. The results were the same for males and females. Subgroup analyses showed that the positive correlation between lnLAP and elevated baPWV did not interact across all subgroups. Conclusions: In Chinese patients with T2DM, LAP was strongly and positively correlated with baPWV and elevated baPWV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an important clinical indicator of aortic stiffness and a risk predictor of cardiovascular disease and associated with obesity. However, whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with baPWV remains controversial. In our study, body fat-related indicators, including BMI, body fat rate (BFR), body fat volume (BFV), waist circumference (WC) were examined from healthy volunteers. We investigated the correlation of baPWV with these indicators and also assessed whether baPWV has the potential to predict these indicators. Methods: A total of 429 healthy participants were enrolled in this study. Body fat indices, blood pressures, baPWV and blood metabolic indices were measured and recorded. The association of baPWV and indices reflecting body fat and blood pressure, as well as mediation effect were analyzed. Results: Three different types of baPWV values were significantly correlated. Mean level of baPWV was an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR, and BFV (exp(β) = 1.011, 1.004, 1.010 and 1.009, respectively, P < .001 for all) but not BMR. As for mediation effects, baPWV positively influenced WC (Total effect = 0.011, P < .001), BMI (Total effect = 0.004, P < .001) and BFV (Total effect = 0.009, P < .001) in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, while baPWV influenced BFR in both direct (Effect = 0.004, P = .018) and indirect way. Conclusions: Levels of baPWV correlated with obesity and is an independent risk factor for WC, BMI, BFR and BFV. Besides, baPWV positively associated with WC, BMI and BFV mainly in indirect way mediated by SBP and DBP, and baPWV associated with BFR in both direct and indirect way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cardiovascular risk models and subclinical atherosclerotic indicators are both recommended for cardiovascular risk stratification. The accordance between the incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and subjects with low and moderate cardiovascular risk is unclear. Hypothesis: Subjects with low and moderate cardiovascular risk have a lower incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis compared with subjects with high risk. Methods: Brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) and brachial flow‐mediated dilation (BFMD) were measured in 421 subjects without a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) from October 2016 to January 2020. All subjects were classified into low, moderate, and high risk based on Framingham and China‐par risk models respectively. Results: Mean age was 57.05 ± 9.35 years and 248 (58.9%) were male. In subjects with low, moderate, and high risk assessed by Framingham and China‐par risk models, the percentage of abnormal BaPWV (> 1400 cm/s) was 42.9%, 70.1%, 85.7%, and 40.4%, 71.4%, 89.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of abnormal BFMD (≤ 7%) was 43.8%, 68.5%, 77.3%, and 44.9%,72.1%, and 76.6%. According to Framingham‐based high‐risk categories, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity and specificity for BaPWV abnormality were 85.7%, 39.4%, 36.1%, and 87.5%, respectively. For BFMD abnormality, the values were 77.3%, 40.1%, 34.1%, and 81.8%, respectively. According to China‐par high‐risk categories, the values for BaPWV abnormality were 89.7%, 43.8%, 45.6%, and 89.0%, respectively. For BFMD abnormality, the values were 76.6%, 41.3%, 40.7%, and 77%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age and blood pressure were the independent predictors for subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with low‐moderate risk. Conclusions: More than one‐half of subjects with low and moderate risk already have detectable subclinical atherosclerosis, indicating higher cardiovascular risk beyond the traditional stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the long-term effects of tofogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on atherosclerosis progression and major clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes lacking an apparent history of cardiovascular disease. Methods This was a prospective observational 2-year extension study of the “Using TOfogliflozin for Possible better Intervention against Atherosclerosis for type 2 diabetes patients (UTOPIA)” trial, a 2-year randomized intervention study. The primary endpoints represented changes in the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Secondary endpoints included brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and biomarkers for glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, renal function, and cardiovascular risks. Results The mean IMT of the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA) significantly decreased in both the tofogliflozin (− 0.067 mm, standard error 0.009, p

Background and Objectives: Brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an established independent risk factor for cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. Osteocalcin (OC) is recognized to be associated with vascular function. The present study assessed the correlation between serum OC levels and peripheral arterial stiffness (PAS) measured through baPWV in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from 120 hypertensive participants. The serum total OC levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, whereas the baPWV device was used to detect PAS. The PAS group had left or right baPWV > 18.0 m/s. Results: Among the hypertensive patients, 24 (20.0%) were classified into the PAS group. The PAS group exhibited a significantly older age (p = 0.011), higher prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.010), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.019), levels of serum fasting glucose (p = 0.003), blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.024), creatinine (p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (p = 0.007), OC (p = 0.002), and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (p = 0.004) than the non-PAS group. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.076, 95% CI: 1.004–1.153, p = 0.037) and serum OC level (OR: 1.797, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.077–3.000, p = 0.025) were independent factors linked to PAS in hypertensive patients in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Serum OC levels and older age are positively associated with PAS in hypertensive patients.

Objective This study aimed to explore whether circadian rhythm of blood pressure is associated with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with essential hypertension. Method This cross-sectional study included 4,217 patients with essential hypertension who completed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, baPWV, and FMD. BaPWV and FMD were measured to evaluate arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction. Participants were divided into dipper, non-dipper, and reverse dipping groups according to the nocturnal systolic blood pressure dipping percentage. Results In this study, baPWV was highest in the reverse dipping groups, followed by non-dipper and dipper groups (1667.11 ± 327.90 vs. 1613.88 ± 325.11 vs. 1577.45 ± 306.15 cm/s, P

The association between white blood cell (WBC) count and arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension is not well-documented. We aimed to examine the relationships of total WBC count with arterial stiffness and risk of macrovascular damage in hypertensive patients. A total of 631 hypertensive adults (mean age: 65.6 years) were included in the present study. Arterial stiffness was determined by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Macrovascular damage was defined as baPWV >1.8 m/s or ABI <.9. The dose-response associations were assessed by multivariate linear or logistic regression models. After multivariate adjustments, we observed a dose-response relationship between increasing total WBC count and arterial stiffness. Participants in the highest tertile of total WBC count showed a significantly elevated baPWV (β =.088; 95% CI:.021,.154; P trend =.010) and reduced ABI (β = −.027; 95% CI: −.046, −.008; P trend =.005), as compared with those in the first tertile. The association was similar in different subgroups. In addition, elevated total WBC count was related to a greater risk of macrovascular damage, as indicated by baPWV >1.8 m/s (OR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.99, comparing the extreme tertiles). Our data suggest that elevated total WBC count was related to arterial stiffness among individuals with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accumulated evidence has shown that carotid‐femoral and brachial‐ankle PWV well predict cardiovascular events but it is still unclear if the predictability is same or not. In this cross‐sectional study based on a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China, a total of 5282 participants without previous coronary heart disease and stroke were enrolled from a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China. The 10‐year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk were calculated by the China‐PAR model, and 10% were defined as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. The average baPWV and cfPWV values were 16.63 ± 3.35 m/s and 8.45 ± 1.78 m/s, respectively. The mean 10‐year ASCVD risk was 6.98% (interquartile range: 3.90%–12.01%). The patients with low, intermediate, and high 10‐year ASCVD risk accounted for 34.84% (1840), 31.94% (1687),, and 33.23% (1755) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that for every 1 m/s increase in baPWV and cfPWV, the 10‐year ASCVD risk increased by 0.60% (95% confidence interval: 0.56%–0.65%, p

Min Sun,1,2 Lei Gao,1 Hongmei Bai,1 Weiwei Hu,1 Xiaofang Zhang,1 Jin Xiao,1 Xiangliang Deng,1 Hongmei Tao,1 Ping Ge,2 Yuhong Qin,1,&ast; Dongying Zhang1,&ast; 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2Health Management Center, The First Branch of the Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dongying Zhang; Yuhong Qin, Tel +86-23-13608398395 ; +86-23-13068357151, Email zhangdongying@cqmu.edu.cn; 798213639@qq.comPurpose: To investigate the association of visceral fat with arterial stiffness of heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and to evaluate the extent to which this association is mediated by blood pressure (BP).Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04535726) recruited 94 patients with HFpEF totally from October to December 2020. The obesity-related measurements included visceral fat area (VFA), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist–hip ratio (WC/HC), abdominal circumference (AC), body fat mass and fat percentage. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used to estimate the degree of arterial stiffness. Mediation analysis was performed to reveal whether the effect of visceral fat area on arterial stiffness can be mediated by BP in patients with HFpEF and the extent to which this association was mediated by BP.Results: About 93.6% of HFpEF patients were accompanied with abdominal obesity. Patients in baPWV ≥ 1800cm/s group were older, with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and abdominal obesity. VFA, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were correlated with baPWV in total group. Adjusted for age ≥ 75 years old, gender, smoking, T2DM, calcium channel blocker and statins, the mediation effect of systolic SBP and PP on the VFA-baPWV association were 53.3% (indirect effect was 2.28, 95% CI 0.62– 4.73) and 48.4% (indirect effect was 2.07, 95% CI 0.51– 4.38), respectively. DBP failed to mediate the association between VFA and baPWV (indirect effect was 0.50, 95% CI − 0.41– 2.14).Conclusion: The association of visceral fat with baPWV in HFpEF patients may be partly accounted for SBP or PP. Elevated SBP and PP might be important potential targets for preventing arterial stiffness in HFpEF patients.Keywords: mediation analysis, blood pressure, visceral fat area, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, HFpEF

Abstract Background Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are closely related with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Remnant cholesterol (RC) could predict CVD. However, its effect on joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of RC with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression trajectories in the general population. Methods This study collected data across five biennial surveys of the Beijing Health Management Cohort from 2010 to 2019. Multi-trajectory model was used to determine the joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI). We also performed discordance analyses for RC vs. low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using ordinal logistics model. Results A total of 3186 participants were included, with three clusters following distinct arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns identified using a multi-trajectory model. In the multivariable-adjusted ordinal logistics analyses, RC was significantly associated with baPWV and ABI progression (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13–1.28, per 10 mg/dL). For the discordance analyses, the discordant low RC group was associated with decreased risk compared to the concordant group (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60–0.89). People with a high RC level were at an increased risk of joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression, even with optimal LDL-C. Conclusions RC is independently associated with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL-C. RC could be an earlier risk factor than LDL-C of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis in the general population.

Abstract Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the most widely used measurement of arterial stiffness in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the relationships between carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and brachial‐ankle PWV (baPWV) and the presence of carotid plaque. This study was designed cross‐sectionally and included 6027 participants from a community‐based cohort in Beijing. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate and compare the associations of cfPWV and baPWV with the presence of carotid plaque. The mean (SD) cfPWV and baPWV were 8.55 ± 1.83 and 16.79 ± 3.36, respectively. The prevalence of carotid plaque was 45.26% (n = 2728). Both cfPWV (per 1 m/s increase: OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07–1.16) and baPWV (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02–1.06) were independently associated with carotid plaque after adjusting for various confounders. Compared with bottom quartile (cfPWV ≤7.31 m/s and baPWV ≤14.44 m/s), the top quartile of cfPWV and baPWV had a significantly higher prevalence of carotid plaque (for cfPWV: OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.32–1.92; for baPWV: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.26–1.86). However, the relationship of baPWV and carotid plaque was nonlinear, with a positive trend only when baPWV

Background Inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference (IASBPD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, which may be involved with arterial stiffness. Objective To investigate the association of IASBPD with arterial stiffness in essential hypertension. Methods This retrospective study consecutively included 6 834 patients with essential hypertension who were admitted to Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from December 2019 to September 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to IASBPD. Arterial stiffness was assessed by the value of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Multiple linear regression and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of arterial stiffness with IASBPD, then based on this, multivariate Logistic regression was further used for subgroup analysis to explore the impact of each influencing factor and their interaction on arterial stiffness. Results The IASBPD tertile groups were: IASBPD1 800 cm/s) was 15.26% (1 043/6 834). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that IASBPD was associated with baPWV, and an increase in IASBPD by 1 mm Hg corresponded to an increase of 4.31 cm/s in baPWV〔B=4.31, 95%CI (3.29, 5.31), P

Background: This study aimed to assess the long-term effects of tofogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on atherosclerosis progression and major clinical parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes lacking an apparent history of cardiovascular disease. Methods: This was a prospective observational 2-year extension study of the "Using TOfogliflozin for Possible better Intervention against Atherosclerosis for type 2 diabetes patients (UTOPIA)" trial, a 2-year randomized intervention study. The primary endpoints represented changes in the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Secondary endpoints included brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and biomarkers for glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, renal function, and cardiovascular risks. Results: The mean IMT of the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA) significantly decreased in both the tofogliflozin (− 0.067 mm, standard error 0.009, p < 0.001) and conventional treatment groups (− 0.080 mm, SE 0.009, p < 0.001) throughout the follow-up period; however, no significant intergroup differences in the changes (0.013 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.012 to 0.037, p = 0.32) were observed in a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. baPWV significantly increased in the conventional treatment group (82.7 ± 210.3 cm/s, p = 0.008) but not in the tofogliflozin group (− 17.5 ± 221.3 cm/s, p = 0.54), resulting in a significant intergroup difference in changes (− 100.2 cm/s, 95% CI − 182.8 to − 17.5, p = 0.018). Compared to the conventional treatment group, tofogliflozin significantly improved the hemoglobin A1c and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, body mass index, abdominal circumference, and systolic blood pressure. The frequencies of total and serious adverse events did not vary significantly between the groups. Conclusions: Tofogliflozin was not associated with improved inhibition of carotid wall thickening but exerted long-term positive effects on various cardiovascular risk factors and baPWV while showing a good safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The study investigated whether the ankle–brachial index (ABI) and pulse wave velocity (baPWV) could reflect the severity of small vessel disease (SVD) and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). (2) Methods: A total of 956 consecutive patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled from July 2016 to December 2017. SVD severity and LAA stenosis grades were evaluated via magnetic resonance imaging and carotid duplex ultrasonography. Correlation coefficients were calculated between the ABI/baPWV and measurement values. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive potential. (3) Results: Among the 820 patients included in the final analysis, the stenosis grade of extracranial and intracranial vessels was inversely correlated with the ABI (p < 0.001, respectively) and positively correlated with the baPWV (p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Abnormal ABI, not baPWV, independently predicted the presence of moderate (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.31–3.63) to severe (aOR: 5.59, 95% CI: 2.21–14.13) extracranial vessel stenosis and intracranial vessel stenosis (aOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.15–3.11). Neither the ABI nor baPWV was independently associated with SVD severity. (4) Conclusions: ABI is better than baPWV in screening for and identifying the existence of cerebral large vessel disease, but neither test is a good predictor of cerebral SVD severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundArterial Velocity-pulse Index (AVI) and Arterial Pressure-volume Index (API), measured by a brachial cuff, have been demonstrated to be indicative of arterial stiffness and correlated with the risk of cardiovascular events. However, the threshold values of AVI and API for screening increased arterial stiffness in the general population are yet to be established.MethodsThe study involved 860 subjects who underwent general physical examinations (M/F = 422/438, age 53.4 ± 12.7 years) and were considered to represent the general population in China. In addition to the measurements of AVI, API and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), demographic information, arterial blood pressures, and data from blood and urine tests were collected. The threshold values of AVI and API were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses and covariate-adjusted ROC (AROC) analyses against baPWV, whose threshold for diagnosing high arterial stiffness was set at 18 m/s. Additional statistical analyses were performed to examine the correlations among AVI, API and baPWV and their correlations with other bio-indices.ResultsThe area under the curve (AUC) values in ROC analysis for the diagnosis with AVI/API were 0.745/0.819, 0.788/0.837, and 0.772/0.825 (95% CI) in males, females, and all subjects, respectively. Setting the threshold values of AVI and API to 21 and 27 resulted in optimal diagnosis performance in the total cohort, whereas the threshold values should be increased to 24 and 29, respectively, in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis in the female group. The AROC analyses revealed that the threshold values of AVI and API increased markedly with age and pulse pressure (PP), respectively.ConclusionsWith appropriate threshold values, AVI and API can be used to perform preliminary screening for individuals with increased arterial stiffness in the general population. On the other hand, the results of the AROC analyses imply that using threshold values adjusted for confounding factors may facilitate the refinement of diagnosis. Given the fact that the study is a cross-sectional one carried out in a single center, future multi-center or follow-up studies are required to further confirm the findings or examine the value of the threshold values for predicting cardiovascular events.

Abstract Background The relationships between inflammatory indexes and atherosclerosis as well as those between blood lipid indexes and atherosclerosis have been widely studied, but the relationship between the neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) and atherosclerosis had not been investigated until the present study. Methods For this cross‐sectional study, we continuously collected data from a health examination population in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2012 to December 2017 (N = 1978). The collected data included clinical data, hematological indexes, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (Ba-PWV). Atherosclerosis was defined as Ba-PWV ≥ 1400 cm/s. The relationship between the NHR and atherosclerosis was explored via univariate regression analysis, multivariate regression analysis, smoothing function analysis, and analysis of a threshold saturation effect. Results Among 1978 participants, the mean age was 54 years, 1189 participants (60.11%) were male, and 1103 (55.76%) had a history of atherosclerosis. Univariate analysis showed a positive association between the NHR and atherosclerosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.27, P 3.32. Conclusion A nonlinear relationship with a certain saturation effect was observed between the NHR and atherosclerosis in a health examination population.

Abstract Aortic dilation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increased brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a hallmark of vascular aging and arterial stiffness, as well as an important risk factor for vascular disease. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the correlation between baPWV and aortic diameter (AoD) of inpatients with diabetes. A total of 1294 diabetic patients with the detailed medical records were investigated. Arterial stiffness was assessed using baPWV and AoD using echocardiography. The results showed that baPWV and AoD increase with age (p

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the usefulness of arterial stiffness parameters, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), for evaluating arterial damage and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects with diabetes. Methods The study subjects were 277 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. All subjects were evaluated for vascular stiffness using CAVI (n = 154) or baPWV (n = 123). Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the Suita score were also measured because these are established risk factors for future CVD. Associations of both CAVI and baPWV with these established parameters were evaluated in all subjects, and then in 174 subjects with adjustment for covariates by using propensity score matching. Results In all subjects, CAVI and baPWV correlated significantly with both IMT (r = 0.462, P

Background: Arterial stiffness is an important indicator of cardiovascular aging. However, studies assessing the association between metal exposure and arterial stiffness are limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and joint associations of metal exposure with arterial stiffness. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 2982 Chinese adults from August 2018 to March 2019 in Wuhan, China. The concentrations of 20 urinary metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). We used generalized linear model (GLM) to estimate the association of single metal exposure with baPWV. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to estimate the association of metal mixture with baPWV. Results: In GLM regression analysis, each doubling of urinary copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) concentrations were associated with 6.48 (95 % CI: 2.51–10.45) cm/s and 3.78 (95 % CI: 0.42–7.14) cm/s increase in baPWV, respectively. In WQS regression analysis, each unit increase in WQS index of the metal mixture was associated with a 9.10 (95 % CI: 2.39–15.82) cm/s increase in baPWV. Cu, Zn, and Cr were the dominant urinary metals associated with baPWV. Conclusion: Metal exposure, both individually and in mixture, was associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness. Our findings may provide a target for preventative strategies against cardiovascular aging.

Accumulated evidence has shown that carotid‐femoral and brachial‐ankle PWV well predict cardiovascular events but it is still unclear if the predictability is same or not. In this cross‐sectional study based on a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China, a total of 5282 participants without previous coronary heart disease and stroke were enrolled from a community atherosclerosis cohort in Beijing, China. The 10‐year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk were calculated by the China‐PAR model, and < 5%, 5%–10% and > 10% were defined as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. The average baPWV and cfPWV values were 16.63 ± 3.35 m/s and 8.45 ± 1.78 m/s, respectively. The mean 10‐year ASCVD risk was 6.98% (interquartile range: 3.90%–12.01%). The patients with low, intermediate, and high 10‐year ASCVD risk accounted for 34.84% (1840), 31.94% (1687),, and 33.23% (1755) respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that for every 1 m/s increase in baPWV and cfPWV, the 10‐year ASCVD risk increased by 0.60% (95% confidence interval: 0.56%–0.65%, p <.001) and 1.17% (95% confidence interval: 1.09%–1.25%, p <.001), respectively. The diagnostic ability of the baPWV was comparable to the cfPWV (area under the curve: 0.870 [0.860–0.879] vs. 0.871 [0.861–0.881], p =.497). In conclusion, baPWV and cfPWV are positively associated with the 10‐year risk of ASCVD in the Chinese community‐based population, with a nearly identical association with a high 10‐year risk of ASCVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are closely related with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Remnant cholesterol (RC) could predict CVD. However, its effect on joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association of RC with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression trajectories in the general population. Methods: This study collected data across five biennial surveys of the Beijing Health Management Cohort from 2010 to 2019. Multi-trajectory model was used to determine the joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle brachial index (ABI). We also performed discordance analyses for RC vs. low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using ordinal logistics model. Results: A total of 3186 participants were included, with three clusters following distinct arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression patterns identified using a multi-trajectory model. In the multivariable-adjusted ordinal logistics analyses, RC was significantly associated with baPWV and ABI progression (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.13–1.28, per 10 mg/dL). For the discordance analyses, the discordant low RC group was associated with decreased risk compared to the concordant group (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60–0.89). People with a high RC level were at an increased risk of joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression, even with optimal LDL-C. Conclusions: RC is independently associated with joint arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis progression beyond LDL-C. RC could be an earlier risk factor than LDL-C of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Few studies examined the relationship between triglyceride/glucose index (TyG index) and atherosclerosis in Japanese adults. Therefore, this study evaluated their relationship, as measured based on the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in Japanese adults. Methods A total of 912 participants was selected from the NAGALA (NAFLD in Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) study conducted from 2004 to 2012. The relationship between the TyG index and baPWV was estimated through a logistic model. Subgroup analyses by sex, age, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and fatty liver was performed. The formula for TyG index was ln (½fasting triglyceride level [mg/dL] × fasting plasma glucose level [mg/dL]). Results A linear relationship between TyG and baPWV was discovered after adjusting for underlying confounders. An increased risk of baPWV was observed after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fatty liver, eGFR, and TyG as a continuous variable (adjusted odds ratio [adj OR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.14–2.18). Compared with the TyG index in the first tertile, the probabilities of subjects in the third tertile that developed to baPWV were 1.78-fold higher (adj OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.08–2.95: P for trend 0.024). Moreover, stable associations were observed between the TyG index and baPWV in different variables through subgroup analyses. Conclusions The highest tertile (above 8.57) of the TyG index was positively and linearly related to subclinical atherosclerosis in Japanese adults and may be valuable as a predicted marker.

Rui Wang,1 Xiao-li Liu,1 Xiao-jiao Jia,1 Yan Liu,2 Qiang Lu1 1Department of Endocrinology, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical department, The First Hospital of Qinhuangdao, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qiang Lu, Email luqiangtg@163.comObjective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between one-hour post-load plasma glucose levels and early arterial stiffness in subjects with different glucose tolerance.Methods: This case-control study included 57 subjects with normal glucose tolerance, 38 subjects with pre-diabetes, and 30 subjects with type 2 diabetes. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with 75 g of oral anhydrous glucose at 8:00 AM. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a surrogate marker of early arterial stiffness.Results: baPWV was significantly higher in the diabetes group than in the normal glucose tolerance group (diabetes group: 1501.8 ± 270.4 cm/s, pre-diabetes group: 1428.6 ± 173.1 cm/s vs normal glucose tolerance group: 1368.0 ± 242.8 cm/s) (p < 0.05). baPWV was positively correlated with age (r = 0.512, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.526, p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.298, p = 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (r = 0.213, p = 0.017), 1-h plasma glucose levels from the OGTT (r = 0.407, p < 0.001) and 2-h plasma glucose levels from the OGTT (r = 0.202, p = 0.024). When baPWV was considered as the dependent variable in a multiple regression analysis, the 1-h plasma glucose level from the OGTT maintained an independent association with baPWV (β = 23.129, 95% CI: 8.142– 38.115, p = 0.003, R2 = 0.036).Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the presence of early arterial stiffness in diabetes. Elevated 1-hour post-load plasma glucose level is closely related to the change of arterial elasticity in diabetes.Keywords: early arterial stiffness, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, post-load glucose