Clinical and functional characteristics of arterial stiffness in elderly

Aim. Purpose of the study. To study the clinical and functional features of the parameters of arterial stiffness in the elderly, depending on gender differences. Materials and methods. The study included 497 therapeutic patients aged from 60 to 74 years. The average age of the examined patients was 65.13.9 years. All patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination. The study of the parameters of arterial stiffness and central arterial pressure (BP) was carried out on the AngioScan-01 apparatus (AngioScan-Electronics, Russia). Depending on the sex differences, the entire sample was divided into two age-matched groups: women (n=287) and men (n=210). Results. In the group of women, systolic levels (13820 mm Hg vs 13419 mm Hg; p=0.018), central (13720 mm Hg vs 13319 mm Hg; p=0.024), average (469 mm Hg vs 456 mm Hg; p=0.018), pulse BP (5316 mm Hg vs 5014 mm Hg; p=0.038), the value of the double product (107.423.5 conventional units vs 101.422.5 conventional units; p=0.004), augmentation index (AI) [22.1 (13.5, 31,3)% vs 15.9 (8.8; 24.9)%; p=0.005], the increase index at a pulse frequency of 75 per minute [23.2 (16.0; 30.5)% vs 15.9 (9.2; 23.5)%; p=0.005] and systole duration in percent (35.505.60 vs 34.244.53; p=0.007) were significantly higher than in the group of men. In addition, men showed a statistically significant increase in the average value of the alternative stiffness index (9.762.61 vs 8.172.03; p=0.005) and the dependence of the AI on age (p0.05). At the same time, a statistically more significant correlation of central and peripheral hemodynamic parameters with the presence of elevated AI (p0.05) was recorded in the group of women. Conclusion. In older women, an increase in systolic, central, average, pulse BP is associated with an increase in AI and an increase in the magnitude of the double product. In the group of elderly men, the increase in the alternative vascular stiffness index contributes to an increase in the duration of the pulse wave. Statistically more pronounced correlation relationships between the value of the AI and clinical and hemodynamic parameters were recorded in elderly women.