Background: Previous studies showed how different risk factor burdens could be translated into vascular age.

Aim: To define correlations between “vascular age” and such subclinical markers of atherosclerosis as pulse wave (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT).

Material and Methods: We investigated 150 men (age 35 – 65) with a low level of cardiovascular risk according to “SCORE” scale without diabetes. Patients have been divided to the following groups: according to age- “< 45 yrs.” (n=58) and “> 45 yrs” (n=92); with arterial hypertension (AG) (n=56), without AG (n=94); delta “-“(n=108), when chronological age is less than vascular age and delta “+” (n=40), when chronological age is higher than vascular age.

We used ultrasound images of carotid arteries for assessing IMT and carotid plagues; computer sphygmography for assessing PWV. “Vascular age” was calculated by using multivariable sex-specific risk factor algorithm, formulated by D’Agostino et al in 2008, which incorporates age, total and HDL cholesterol, systolic BP, use of antihypertensive medication, smoking and diabetes status.

Results: Results showed that vascular age was higher than chronological age in all groups, especially in group “with AG” (p=0,00001)(figure 1). The statistical data of “delta” - median” 7,0; low quartile (−13); upper (−2), which means that the largest difference of vascular age from chronological age was 13 year. The PWV, IMT, common plague levels were not significantly different in two groups. The correlations between both ages (chronological and vascular) and PWV(p=0,001), IMT (p=0,0003), common plague level (p=0,0001) were almost the same (table 1).

Figure 1

Comparison between chronological and vascular ages in different groups.

Conclusions: Vascular age is associated with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis at the same weak level as chronological age.