Preclinical cardiovascular diseases and aortic stiffness

AIM: To compare aortic stiffness (represented by aortic pulse wave velocity - PWVao) as a marker of cardiovascular risk with cardiovascular risk estimated by standard scoring systems in treated hypertensive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a group of 41 hypertensive patients without clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease (18 men/23 women, mean age 59 years) we investigated the presence of risk factors and preclinical cardiovascular diseases. To estimate cardiovascular risk we have used SCORE-HDL model and categorical risk stratification recommended by ESC/ESH. Linear regression was used for evaluation of relation between risk estimation scores and PWVao values. RESULTS: We have found out statistically significant relationship between PWVao and cardiovascular risk assessment systems in our group of patients. The correlation between PWVao and ESC/ESH risk stratification (r = 0.414, P < 0.01) was the most relevant, the correlation between PWVao and SCORE-HDL values was also significant (r = 0.315; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased aortic stiffness as one of the preclinical cardiovascular diseases can be an integrative marker of cardiovascular risk in patients with arterial hypertension.