The Relationship of Modifiable Risk Factors with Indicators of Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Age in Patients with Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Aim. To study the relationship of modifiable risk factors (RF) with indicators of arterial stiffness and vascular age based on the contour analysis of the pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients.Material and methods. The material of the study was the data from a survey of patients undergoing clinical observation at the polyclinic of MMC SOGAZ. A total of 107 patients were examined, in which 70 were men and 37 were women. The average age was 52.3±18.29. Photoplethysmography was used as a special research method, performed using the AngioScan-01 diagnostic complex. The main indicators used to evaluate the stiffness of large vessels were: stiffness index (SI), reflection index (RI), augmentation index (Alp75), age index (AGI), pulse wave types (PV) and vascular age (VA).Results. The mean values of arterial stiffness indices in patients with essential arterial hypertension (AH) and healthy individuals (control) had significant differences. The mean SI, Alp75, and VA values in the group of patients with AH were 7.8±1.03, 7.0±14.44 and 50.8±15.93 versus 7.2±1.73, 0.5±18.02 and 43.8±16.94, respectively (p< 0.05). In both groups, a strong inverse correlation of passport age with C-type PV was revealed (r=0.74, p< 0.01), which reflected the dynamics of a gradual age-dependent decrease in vascular compliance. The average VA value in the control group was 63.1±16.99 years with an average passport age of 59.5±8.79 years, which significantly differed from VA in hypertensive patients (p< 0,05). Overweight, hypercholesterolemia, elevated low-density lipoprotein levels, lack of adequate antihypertensive control, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were significantly associated with early vascular (arterial) aging.Conclusion. Patients with hypertension, in addition to high blood pressure, significantly differ from normotensive control in terms of arterial stiffness. The lack of control over modifiable RF of patients with hypertension is associated with early vascular aging.