Cardio-ankle vascular index predicts for the incidence of cardiovascular events in obese patients: A multicenter prospective cohort study (Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study: JOMS)

Objective The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is an index of arterial stiffness less dependent on blood pressure and an indicator suitable for assessing the arterial dysfunction. However, it remains unclear whether CAVI can predict the outcome of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in obese patients. Methods A total of 425 obese Japanese outpatients (189 men and 236 women, mean age: 51.5 years) were enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort Japan, the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study (JOMS). Primary analysis regarding measurements of cardiovascular risk factors including CAVI and the occurrence of macrovascular complications was based on following the participants over a 5-year period. Results Of the eligible patients, 300 (78%) were followed into the fifth year. During the study period, 15 coronary heart disease, 7 stroke, and 6 arteriosclerosis obliterans events occurred. All events occurred in 28 patients, and CVD incidence rate was 15.8 per 1000 person-years. In the analysis of adjusted models for traditional risk factors, CAVI was a significant factor for the incidence of events. In addition, high CAVI and low HDL-cholesterol were significant factors for the incidence of events in Cox stepwise multivariate analysis when age- and sex-adjusted (CAVI [per 1]: HR = 1.44 [1.02–2.02], p = 0.037; HDL-cholesterol [per 1 mmol/L]: HR = 0.20 [0.06–0.69], p = 0.011). In addition, CAVI added value to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score in predicting the development of CVD. Conclusion This study demonstrates for the first time that CAVI is an effective predictor of CVD events in obese patients.