Carotid extra-media thickness increases with age, but is not related to arterial stiffness in adults

Hon Lam Choi; Jason S. Au; Maureen J. MacDonald

doi:10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.003

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Volume 21, Issue C, March 2018, Pages 13 - 19

Carotid extra-media thickness increases with age, but is not related to arterial stiffness in adults

Authors

Hon Lam Choi, Jason S. Au, Maureen J. MacDonald^*

Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Canada

^*Corresponding author. McMaster University, Department of Kinesiology, IWC E207, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. Fax: +905 523 6011. E-mail addresses: johnnyhlchoi@gmail.com (H.L. Choi), auj2@mcmaster.ca (J.S. Au), macdonmj@mcmaster.ca (M.J. MacDonald).

Corresponding Author

Maureen J. MacDonald

Received 31 October 2017, Accepted 9 December 2017, Available Online 22 December 2017.

DOI: 10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.003 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: Adventitia; Imaging; Ultrasound; Carotid wall thickness; Cardiovascular risk; Coronary artery disease
Abstract: Background: Assessment of carotid artery perivascular adipose tissue through carotid artery extra-media thickness (EMT) ultrasonography has emerged as a novel assessment technique that might contribute unique information to comprehensive evaluations of arterial health. Currently, there is a lack of research examining relationships between EMT and existing measures of arterial health in adults. We investigated the relationships between EMT and established measures of arterial health, including aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), carotid distensibility, and intima-media thickness (IMT) in adults.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional, observational design, we assessed resting aPWV, carotid distensibility, IMT and EMT in 81 participants who were categorized as younger healthy adults (YHA; n = 51; 25 ± 6 years), older healthy adults (OHA; n = 15; 70 ± 5 years) or older adults with coronary artery disease (CAD; n = 15; 68 ± 9 years).

Results: EMT, IMT, and aPWV were higher while carotid distensibility was lower in OHA and CAD versus YHA (P < 0.05). EMT was correlated with age (r = 0.48; P < 0.01), aPWV (r = 0.43; P < 0.01), IMT (r = 0.41; P = 0.01), and distensibility (r = −0.37; P < 0.01). Despite significant correlations, EMT was not an independent predictor of any of the traditional measures of arterial health included in this study.

Conclusions: The novel finding of this study is that while EMT is elevated in older versus younger adults, in agreement with established indicators of arterial health, it is not a predictive factor in these existing measures. EMT may, however, still have clinical utility as a target for comprehensive monitoring of interventions specifically designed to impact arterial structure and function.
Copyright: © 2018 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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Journal: Artery Research
Volume-Issue: 21 - C
Pages: 13 - 19
Publication Date: 2017/12/22
ISSN (Online): 1876-4401
ISSN (Print): 1872-9312
DOI: 10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.003 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

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ris enw bib

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Hon Lam Choi
AU  - Jason S. Au
AU  - Maureen J. MacDonald
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/12/22
TI  - Carotid extra-media thickness increases with age, but is not related to arterial stiffness in adults
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 13
EP  - 19
VL  - 21
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.003
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2017.12.003
ID  - Choi2017
ER  -

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