The association between arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pulse wave velocity and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients with different cardiovascular risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study included 223 patients with at least 2 risk factors for atherosclerosis, divided based on the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD): 140 patients with angiographically documented CAD and 83 patients without CAD. The patients were compared with a control group of 74 healthy age-matched subjects (CON). We determined the following parameters: blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, fasting serum glucose and renal parameters: blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and uric acid levels in all patients. Arterial stiffness was measured with non-invasive oscillometric Arteriograph device (Tensiomed Ltd., Budapest, Hungary) and carotid scan was performed with B-mode ultrasound. RESULTS Patients with CAD had increased values of aortic PWV compared with patients without CAD and CON group (12.5±0.7 vs 10.9±0.6 vs 8.5±0.6 m/s, all p<0.001). The values of carotid IMT were significantly higher in CAD patients as compared to patients without CAD and CON group (1±0.05 versus 1.0±0.07 versus 0.7±0.08 mm, all p<0.001). The carotid IMT significantly correlated with aortic PWV (r=0.787, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Carotid IMT and aortic PWV are useful non-invasive methods for atherosclerosis detection in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors. Both determinations in the same patient will increase the clinical relevance.