Influence of age and sex on the thickness of the radial artery wall

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a relationship between age or sex and the thickness of the radial artery wall. Materials and methodsWe harvested human radial arteries from 48 cadavers (30 men and 18 women) in the anatomy laboratory. Histological sections of 3 μm thickness were prepared at the Laboratory of Anatomy and Pathological Cytology, mounted on slides, and stained with hematoxylin-phloxine-safran, Masson's trichrome, and orcein. The thickness of each radial artery wall (intima-media thickness) was measured using optical microscopy, and an average measurement was established among the three thicknesses (upper third, middle third, and lower third). Statistical methodsStatistical analyses were performed using the R software. Means and standard deviations were utilized. A correlation analysis was also conducted to assess the relationship between radial artery wall thickness and subjects' age. ResultsOn average, the thickness of the left radial artery wall and that of the right radial artery measured 282 (34) micrometers (μm). We found a correlation between radial artery wall thickness and age in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001). ConclusionsIn conclusion, this study elucidates that radial artery wall thickness is related to age and sex in its assessment.