RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN ELDERLY NON-DIABETIC WOMEN

Background: Elderly women have increased arterial stiffness but the precise mechanism that induces vascular alterations is not known. Classical cardiovascular risk factors and systemic inflammation may play a role in this process, but the major determinants in elderly women have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between classical cardiovascular risk factors, C-reactive protein and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in elderly non-diabetic women, without overt cardiovascular disease. Methods: Aortic PWV was measured non-invasively using an oscillometric device in 104 elderly women, mean age 69.7 +/- 6.4 years. Laboratory parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were also evaluated. Results: Aortic PWV independently correlated with hsCRP (beta=0.22, p=0.01), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.23, p=0.009), abdominal circumference (beta=0.24, p=0.007) and age (beta=0.18, p=0.03). Aortic PWV was increased in hypertensive compared with normotensive subjects (10.3 +/- 2.3 vs. 9.0 +/- 1.6, p=0.006) and in obese compared to non-obese women (10.7 +/- 1.9 vs. 9.6 +/- 2.2, p=0.01). Conclusion: In elderly non-diabetic women, age, abdominal obesity, systolic blood pressure and hsCRP, are the most important determinants of aortic PWV. Body weight loss, efficient control of blood pressure and decrease in systemic inflammation may reduce arterial stiffness in this high cardiovascular risk population.