Artery Research

Volume 6, Issue 4, December 2012, Pages 202 - 202

GETTING A GRIP ON ARTERIAL STIFFNESS: THE ASKLEPIOS STUDY

Authors
Ernst Rietzschel
Universitair Ziekehuis, Ghent, Belgium
Available Online 17 November 2012.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.10.006How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

The ASKLEPIOS study started in 2002 with a medium-term goal of providing better understanding into the interplay between ageing, haemodynamics (and non-haemodynamic stresses) on the development of cardiovascular disease. The long-term goal is to focus on better risk prevention strategies.

The study cohort consists of a representative, random population sample of >2500 apparently healthy Belgian subjects, examined initially in 2002–2004 and currently undergoing re-examination after a 10-year interval (completion due Q4 2014). An overarching theme has been the study of time-integrative biomarkers, which reflect a cumulative – preferably lifecourse – risk factor burden. These include biomechanics-derived biomarkers (arterial stiffness, altered haemodynamics, cardiac remodeling), but also blood-borne ageing biomarkers (telomere length, DNA methylation) and imaging-based biomarkers (intima-media thickness and plaque accumulation).

Asklepios, from the beginning, was (and is) a very close collaboration between clinicians and engineers. An important research focus has been the study of haemodynamics as complex time-varying phenomena, by combining pressure, flow and diameter or volume curves, an approach that is currently feasible in clinical practice datasets, using non-invasive tools.

In recent years, we better understand how subtle cardio-vascular dysfunctions, while asymptomatic at rest, become clinically relevant when heart and vessels need to effectively interact in order to perform an exercise. Therefore, in the current re-examination of our 2500 subjects, we are extending our characterization by not only studying the subjects at rest, but also whilst a haemodynamic load is imposed (by isometric handgrip), an approach – we believe – that will allow for an even more profound insight in this complex field.

Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
6 - 4
Pages
202 - 202
Publication Date
2012/11/17
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2012.10.006How to use a DOI?
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license.

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ernst Rietzschel
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2012/11/17
TI  - GETTING A GRIP ON ARTERIAL STIFFNESS: THE ASKLEPIOS STUDY
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 202
EP  - 202
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2012.10.006
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2012.10.006
ID  - Rietzschel2012
ER  -