Syndrome of early vascular aging in persons working under the influence of industrial aerosol

Abstract

Introduction.Currently, the concept of early vascular aging, manifested by an increase in the stiffness of the vascular wall, is gaining popularity. As a method of diagnosis of this syndrome, volumetric sphygmography is increasingly used to determine the cardiovascular ankle vascular index and estimated age. In addition to studying the impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on the development of vascular rigidity, a promising direction is the search for additional factors that reduce the elasticity of the vascular wall.The aim of the studywas to assess the effect of industrial aerosol on the development of early vascular aging syndrome in metallurgical workers.Materials and methods. 155 men working at the metallurgical enterprise were examined. The main group included 95 people working in conditions of exposure to industrial aerosol. The comparison group included 60 workers not exposed to industrial aerosol. All subjects underwent periodic medical examination, assessment of blood lipid spectrum, smoking status and experience, study of elastic properties of the vascular wall by volumetric sphygmography.Results.The study showed that in persons working under the influence of industrial aerosol, the cardiovascular ankle vascular index was significantly higher than in the comparison group (7.13 [6.3; 8] and 6.75 [6.1;7.13], respectively, p=0.006). The estimated age remained comparable with the chronological age of the two groups, but was significantly higher in the main group (42 [29;49] years and 37.1 [29;44] years, respectively, p=0.014). An increase in the cardiovascular-ankle vascular index relative to the age norm was revealed in 33.6% of the surveyed main group, which is twice higher than this indicator of the comparison group (16.6%). According to the calculated vascular age, early vascular aging was detected in 28.4% of the main group and in 13.3% of the comparison group. Signifi cantdiff erences appear when working in hazardous conditions for more than 10 years in the age category from 35 to 45 years.Conclusions.The obtained results indicate a high prevalence of early vascular aging in persons working under the influence of industrial aerosol.