Aortic & peripheral vascular disease
Arterial stiffening is a heritable trait associated with arterial dilation but not wall thickening: a longitudinal study in the twins UK cohort
Authors' conclusion
Arterial stiffening, as measured by PWVcf, and dilation are heritable but independent of arterial wall thickening. Genetic and cardiovascular risk factors contribute differently to progression of PWV and IMT.
Study context
- Population
- Female twins, Twins UK cohort (mean age 57.9 ± 8.6 years)Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-sample n = 38
- Participants
- 762 twins
- Outcome
- Changes in PWVcf, carotid diameter, carotid distensibility and carotid IMT, their interrelation and heritability
- Follow-up
- Average 4.9 ± 1.5 years
Methodological detailstwin study
- Twin study
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Annual increase in PWVcf
- 0.139 m/s per year
- Annual increase in carotid diameter
- 0.028 mm per year
- Annual change in carotid distensibility
- −0.4 kPa-1 per year
- Annual increase in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)
- 0.011 mm per year
- Heritability of progression of PWVcf
- 55%
- Heritability of progression of carotid diameter
- 21%
- Heritability of progression of IMT
- 8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of progression in PWVcf and IMT (regression)
- PWVcf progression predicted by baseline age, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and HR, and progression in MAP, HR and body mass index (BMI)
- IMT progression predicted by progression in MAP, BMI and TG
Aortic wall thickness on MRI (sub-sample)
- Aortic wall thickness increase
- 0.19 mm/year
- Aortic wall thickening not correlated with increase in lumen diameter or PWVaorta
- MRI sub-sample n = 38
Original publication
Arterial stiffening is a heritable trait associated with arterial dilation but not wall thickening: a longitudinal study in the twins UK cohort. Eur Heart J. Published 26 March 2018. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →