Pediatric reference values for arterial stiffness parameters cardio-ankle vascular index and CAVI0

Abstract

The process of arteriosclerosis begins early in life, and cardiovascular risk factors identified in childhood tend to persist into adulthood. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a recent parameter of arterial stiffness, is considered an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. However, there are no studies reporting sex- and age-specific physiological values of CAVI in childhood. We aimed to establish reference values for CAVI and its blood pressure–corrected variant (CAVI0) in 500 healthy children and adolescents aged 7 to 19 years and to study potential relationships with anthropometric indices. Sex- and age-specific distributions of CAVI and CAVI0 values in healthy children and adolescents are presented. Boys aged 15–19 years had lower CAVI than girls, which could result from CAVI's slight blood pressure dependence. CAVI0 did not show such sex difference. Body roundness index—a novel parameter to quantify abdominal fat—was a strong anthropometric predictor of both CAVI and CAVI0. This is the first study providing pediatric age- and sex-specific reference values for arterial stiffness parameters CAVI and CAVI0. The presented data can contribute to the understanding of the evolution of these indices during childhood and adolescence. Under specific conditions, CAVI0 may offer more robust information about arterial stiffness than standard CAVI.