Association between cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and chronic airway obstruction in asthma

Abstract

Background: The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is an index of the overall stiffness of the artery from the origin of the aorta to the ankle. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate CAVI and its relationships to clinical parameters in adult asthmatics. Methods: Adult asthmatics underwent CAVI measurement at Fukushima Medical University Hospital. We calculated normal values of CAVI based on the linear regression equation consisting of age and sex in healthy Japanese individuals without coronary risk factors. We defined the percent-predicted CAVI (%CAVI) as the ratio of CAVI in asthmatics to a normal value. Asthmatics with higher than 100% of %CAVI were defined as the high CAVI group and those with 100% or lower of %CAVI were defined as the low CAVI group. Asthmatics who smoked more than 10 pack-years were excluded from the study. Results: A total of 52 asthmatics (29–80 years, female/male = 41/11) were included. Mean (±SD) %CAVI was 98.4 ± 11.7 %. The prevalence in the high CAVI group was 52% (27 out of 52 asthmatics). In this group, age, age at asthma onset, and serum IgE level were significantly higher, and forced expiratory volume in one-second percent (FEV1/FVC) at stable condition was significantly lower than in the low CAVI group. No significant differences were observed in the severity of asthma, incidence of asthma attacks, and annual decline in forced expiratory volume in one second between both groups. In 31 asthmatics without diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, there was a significant negative correlation between %CAVI and FEV1/FVC at stable condition. Conclusions: These results suggest a possible relation between CAVI and airway remodeling in asthma.