2023 Volume 50 Issue 4 Pages 403-411
Objectives: To clarify the involvement of obesity, atherosclerotic risk factors, and metabolic syndrome in vascular aging in the elderly population and examine the significance of atherosclerotic risk factor treatment.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Hospital.
Participants: Two hundred and sixteen examinees (146 men and 70 women) aged ≥65 years.
Main outcome measures: We examined whether there were sex differences in aortic calcification, cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), age, body mass index (BMI), atherosclerosis risk factors, and metabolic syndrome degree. We also examined whether aortic calcification and CAVI correlated with age, BMI, atherosclerosis risk factors, and degree of metabolic syndrome. Aortic calcification, CAVI, age, BMI, atherosclerotic risk factors, and metabolic syndrome degree were compared between the treatment and non-treatment groups for risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes).
Results: Men had higher values than women for several parameters, except cholesterol. Aortic calcification was associated with age and atherosclerotic risk factors in men and with age and dyslipidemia treatment in women. The CAVI was associated with age and blood pressure only in men. Among men, the CAVI was higher in dyslipidemia and diabetes treatment groups than in the non-treatment group but not significantly different between the hypertension and non-treatment groups. In women, the CAVI was significantly higher in the hypertension treatment than in the non-treatment group but not significantly different between dyslipidemia and diabetes treatment and non-treatment groups.
Conclusions: Although there are differences between men and women, therapeutic reductions of atherosclerotic risks may inhibit the progression of vascular aging.
