Early detection of arterial dysfunction is important in preventing cardiovascular diseases. We evaluated the associations of the accumulated cardiovascular risk factors with the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), a new indicator of arterial stiffness.

Methods: The study population consisted of 101 employees in the forest industry (49±8 years of age). CAVI was measured by PWV method (VaSera, Fukuda Denshii, Japan). International Diabetes Association (IDF) criteria for metabolic syndrome were used to dichotomize the cardiovascular (CV) risk variables (http://www.idf.org/metabolic-syndrome). Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS 20.0 for Windows (SPSS, USA). Number of risk factors was used as a grouping variable for group comparisons. Independent-Samples T Test was used to compare means and stepwise multiple regression to evaluate the independent risk factors affecting CAVI.

Results: There were no differences between number of risk factors and CAVI in women. Only the men (N=72, 49±8 years of age) were included in further analyses. The CAVI of the men with 3 or 4 risk factors was significantly higher than the CAVI of the men without risk factors (p-values 0.025 – 0.0005). Men with elevated blood glucose level (B-Gluc) or arterial blood pressure (BP) had significantly higher CAVI than men with normal B-Gluc (p=0.032) and BP (p=0.007). In the regression analysis Age (β =0.455, p=0.000), B-Gluc (β =0.237, p=0.038), systolic blood pressure (β =0.268, p=0.010) and waist circumference (β = −0.201, p=0.064) explained 45.1 % of the variation in CAVI.

Discussion: Among middle-aged men the number of CV risk factors is an important determinant of cardiovascular health assessed by arterial stiffness. B-Gluc and BP may have a special negative effect on CAVI. Waist circumference seems to be more useful risk factor for arterial dysfunction in male workers than BMI.