Hrusková, J

Abstract Background : The term arterial stiffness (ArSt) describes structural changes in arterial wall related to the loss of elasticity and is known as an independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The evidence relating to ArSt and triglycerides (TG) shows contradictory results. This paper means to survey the association between high TG and ArSt, utilizing the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). Methods : Subjects aged between 25 and 64 years from a random population-based sample were evaluated between 2013-2016. Data from questionnaires, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, and blood samples were collected and analyzed. CAVI was measured using VaSera VS-1500N devise. Subjects with a history of CVD or chronic renal disease were excluded. Results : 1934 participants, 44.7 % of males, were included. The median age was 48 (Interquartile Range [IQR] 19) years, TG levels were 1.05 (0.793) mmol/L, and CAVI 7.24 (1.43) points. Prevalence of high CAVI was 10.0 % (14.5 % in males and 6.4 % in females; P < 0.001) and prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 20.2 % (29.2 % in males and 13 % in females; P <0.001). Correlation between TG and CAVI was 0.136 ( P <0.001). High CAVI values were more prevalent among participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS), high blood pressure, dysglycemia, abdominal obesity, high LDL-cholesterol, and high total cholesterol. Using binary regression analysis, high TG were associated with high CAVI, even after adjustment for other MetS components, age, gender, smoking status, LDL-c, and statin treatment (β=0.474, OR= 1.607, 95 % CI = 1.063-2.429, P =0.024). Conclusion : TG levels were correlated with ArSt, measured as CAVI. High TG was associated with high CAVI independent of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors. Awareness of the risks and targeted treatment of hypertriglyceridemia could further benefit in reducing the prevalence of CVD and events.

Abstract Background The term arterial stiffness (ArSt) describes the reduced capability of an artery to expand and contract in response to pressure changes and is recognized as an independent predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The evidence relating ArSt and triglycerides (TG) shows contradictory results. The aim of this paper is to assess the association between high TG and ArSt, using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).Methods Subjects aged between 25 and 64 years from a random population-based sample were evaluated between 2013–2016. Data from questionnaires, blood pressure, anthropometric measures and blood samples were collected to identify the metabolic syndrome (MetS). CAVI was measured using VaSera VS-1500N devise (Fukuda Denshi Co., Ltd., Japan). Subjects with history of CVD or chronic renal disease were excluded.Results 1934 participants, 44.7% males, were included. Median age was 48 (Interquartile Range [IQR] 19) years, TG levels were 1.05 (0.793) mmol/L, and CAVI 7.24 (1.43) points. Prevalence of high CAVI was 10.0% (14.5% in males and 6.4% in females; p < 0.001). Correlation between TG and CAVI was 0.136 (p < 0.001). High CAVI values were more prevalent among participants with MetS, high blood pressure, dysglycemia, abdominal obesity, and high total cholesterol. Using binary regression analysis, high TG were associated with high CAVI, even after adjustment for other MetS components, age, gender, smoking status and cholesterol (OR = 1.630, 95% CI = 1.061–2.505, p = 0.026).Conclusion TG levels were correlated with ArSt, measured as CAVI. High TG was associated with high CAVI independent of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors.

Obesity and hypertension independently promote pathological left ventricular remodelling (LVR) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but to what extent they do so when they do not coexist is unclear. We used data from the Cardiovision Brno 2030 study to assess—for the first time in a region where no investigations have been previously carried out—the independent association of obesity and hypertension with LV geometry, and to evaluate the effects of hypertension in normal weight patients and the effects of obesity in normotensive patients. Overall, 433 individuals, aged 25–65 years, with no history of cardiovascular disease and/or antihypertensive treatment, were stratified into four groups according to BMI and hypertension: normal weight non-hypertensive (NWNH), normal weight hypertensive (NWH), overweight/obese non-hypertensive (ONH) and overweight/obese hypertensive (OH). LVR was classified as normal, concentric LVR (cLVR), concentric LVH (cLVH) or eccentric LVH (eLVH). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are the main predictors of LV mass and that they interact: SBP had a stronger effect in overweight/obese (β = 0.195; p = 0.033) compared to normal weight patients (β = 0.134; p = 0.048). Hypertension increased the odds of cLVR (OR = 1.78; 95%CI = 1.04–3.06; p = 0.037) and cLVH (OR = 8.20; 95% CI = 2.35–28.66; p = 0.001), independent of age, sex and BMI. Stratified analyses showed that NWH had a greater odd of cLVH (OR = 7.96; 95%CI = 1.70–37.08; p = 0.008) and cLVR (OR = 1.62; 95%CI = 1.02–3.34; p = 0.047) than NWNH. In the absence of hypertension, obesity was not associated with LVM and abnormal LV geometry, suggesting that it is not per se a determinant of LVR. Thus, antihypertensive therapy still remains the first-line approach against LVH in hypertensive patients, though weight loss interventions might be helpful in those who are obese.

Background: Intima-media thickness (IMT) has been proposed as a measurement of subclinical atherosclerosis and has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a fat depot between the pericardium and myocardium and has been associated with coronary atherosclerosis. The relationship between IMT and EAT thickness has not been reported before. We investigated the relationship between EAT thickness, IMT, CVD risk factors, and ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics using subjects from the Kardiovize Brno 2030 cohort study, a random urban sample population in Central Europe. Methods: We studied 102 individuals (65 males) aged 25–64 years (median = 37 years) with no current or past CVD history. We measured IMT using a vascular ultrasound and EAT thickness using transthoracic echocardiography, and collected data on anthropometric factors, CVD risk factors, and CVH score. Correlation tests and multiple linear regression models were applied. Results: In the age- and gender-adjusted model, we demonstrated that, among CVD risk factors, only BMI was significantly and positively associated with EAT thickness (β = 0.182, SE = 0.082, p = 0.030), while no significant associations with IMT were evident. Although both EAT thickness and IMT were negatively correlated with CVH score (r = −0.45, p < 0.001, and r = −0.38, p < 0.001, respectively), we demonstrated that overall CVH score (β = −0.262; SE = 0.077; p = 0.001), as well as BMI (β = −1.305; SE = 0.194; p < 0.001) and blood pressure CVH metrics (β = −0.607; SE = 0.206; p = 0.004) were significantly associated with EAT thickness but not with IMT. Conclusions: Our study is important as it demonstrated for the first time that CVH is associated with EAT thickness. Interestingly, this relationship seems to be dependent on BMI and blood pressure rather than on the other CVH metrics. However, outcome-driven studies are required to confirm these findings.