Abstract
BackgroundAge-related low-grade inflammation causing endothelial disruption influences sarcopenia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. We reported previously that maintenance of muscle strength in elderly hypertensive men with high platelet levels is positively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis but not in those with low platelet levels. Since reduced tongue pressure is related to sarcopenia, tongue pressure may be associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive elderly subjects, and platelet levels may function as an indicator of the association between tongue pressure and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of 342 hypertensive elderly Japanese men aged 60–89 who participated in an annual health check-up in 2015 and 2016. Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was defined as a common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of 1.1 mm or more.ResultsIn the overall study population, 171 subjects demonstrated low platelets (< 21.4 × 104/μL). Tongue pressure was significantly inversely associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in these subjects, but not in subjects with high platelets. The known cardiovascular risk factor adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis for a 1 standard deviation (SD) increment in tongue pressure (10.4 kPa) were 0.54 (0.35, 0.85) and 1.31 (0.87, 1.96), respectively.ConclusionTongue pressure is inversely associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive elderly men with low platelet levels, but not in those with high levels. This finding may thus constitute an efficient tool for clarifying the background mechanism of age-related diseases such as sarcopenia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
Highlights
Age-related low-grade inflammation causing endothelial disruption influences sarcopenia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis
That study indicates that the clinical importance of the influence of tongue pressure on subclinical atherosclerosis is especially true in elderly subjects with hypertension
Following up on those previous studies, we found and reported that the maintenance of muscle strength of hypertensive elderly men with high, but not those with low, platelet counts can be expected to show a higher rate of progression of atherosclerosis as a form of compensation for age-related disruption of microvascular endothelium [9]
Summary
Age-related low-grade inflammation causing endothelial disruption influences sarcopenia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. That study indicates that the clinical importance of the influence of tongue pressure on subclinical atherosclerosis is especially true in elderly subjects with hypertension. Following up on those previous studies, we found and reported that the maintenance of muscle strength of hypertensive elderly men with high, but not those with low, platelet counts can be expected to show a higher rate of progression of atherosclerosis as a form of compensation for age-related disruption of microvascular endothelium [9]. Evidence for the unfavorable consequences of reduced muscle strength and subclinical atherosclerosis (not as a form of compensation for age-related disruption of microvascular endothelium) was limited at that time
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