1
|
Hajdusianek W, Żórawik A, Macek P, Poręba M, Poręba R, Gać P. Stiffness and Elasticity of Aorta Assessed Using Computed Tomography Angiography as a Marker of Cardiovascular Health-A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:384. [PMID: 38256515 PMCID: PMC10816888 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular (CV) health can be measured using the American Health Association's Life's Simple 7 scale (ALS7). Aortic stiffness (AoS) and elasticity (AoE) can be assessed using various methods, e.g., computed tomography (CT). To measure AoE, we use aortic strain and distensibility (AoD). The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ALS7, AoS, and AoE. The study group (SG) was composed of 96 patients (mean age 70.41 ± 8.32 years) with a BMI of 25.58 ± 3.12 kg/m2; 28.1% were smokers, 54.2% had hypertension, 11.4% had diabetes, and 67.7% had hypercholesterolemia. The SG was further divided into three subgroups (optimal (ALS7-H), intermediate (ALS7-I), and inadequate (ALS7-L)) based on the ALS7. The AoS and AoE were assessed in each of them. We found that the ALS7-I and ALS7-H had significantly lower AoS values compared to the ALS7-L (AoS: 3.50 ± 0.53 and 4.10 ± 0.70 vs. 4.57 ± 1.03, respectively). The opposite relationship was observed for AoE measured with AoD in the ALS7-H vs. ALS7-L (AoD: 0.23 ± 0.14 vs. 0.11 ± 0.09 cm2/dyn). AoS correlated (r = 0.61) with systolic blood pressure (BP). In our regression model, higher scores on the ALS7 in BP, smoking, and BMI were independent protective factors against greater AoS. Higher ALS7 scores in BP, smoking, BMI, and physical activity were protective factors against lesser aortic strain. Higher scores in ALS7 for BP and smoking were protective factors against lesser AoD. We conclude that better cardiovascular health expressed via higher scores obtained on the ALS7 is associated with lower AoS and higher AoE on CT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Hajdusianek
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 7, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Żórawik
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 7, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Macek
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Poręba
- Department of Paralympic Sports, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Witelona 25a, 51-617 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Poręba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Gać
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 7, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland
- Centre of Diagnostic Imaging, 4th Military Hospital, Weigla 5, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|