Relationship of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors with Pulmonary Age and Vascular Age

抄録

Background: Different organs undergo different atherosclerotic changes due to aging. This study examined the effects of atherosclerotic risk factors on pulmonary and vascular age.

Methods: Our subjects were 531 persons whose pulmonary and vascular age was measured at our center. First, a correlation between pulmonary age and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indicator of vascular age, was examined. Based on mean pulmonary age (60.8) and CAVI (8.53), subjects were divided into four groups (G I: CAVI ≤ 8.5 pulmonary age ≤ 60, G II: CAVI ≥ 8.6 pulmonary age ≤ 60, G III: CAVI ≤ 8.5 pulmonary age ≥ 61, G IV: CAVI ≥ 8.6 pulmonary age ≥ 61). Groups were compared in terms of chronological age, sex, affected atherosclerotic disease (high blood pressure (HBP), dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM)), blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, waist circumference, bone density, aortic calcification score and smoking score.

Results: A moderate, positive correlation was seen between pulmonary age and CAVI. Comparisons with atherosclerotic risk factors in the four groups revealed: i) HbA1c was associated with increased pulmonary age; ii) diastolic blood pressure and aortic calcification score were associated with increased CAVI; and iii) HBP, dyslipidemia, chronological age and systolic blood pressure were associated with increases in both pulmonary age and CAVI.

Conclusion: Although a correlation was seen between pulmonary and vascular age, it was not particularly high. The present study revealed that this was because atherosclerotic risk factors affect pulmonary and vascular age differently.