Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Progression of Arteriosclerosis

Arterioscleriosis is a major cause of cardiovascular events, and is associated with several adult diseases such as hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia (DL), obesity and metabolic syndrome. For direct evaluation of arteriosclerosis, carotid plaque and/or pulse wave velocity have been used widely in patients with these major risk factors.

In middle-aged and/or aged patients, carotid arterioscleriosis evaluated by carotid duplex ultrasonography (DUS) or pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been associated with above disease states, and an increase in the number of such so-called ’risk disease’ may result in progression of arteriosclerosis. However the association between progression of arteriosclerosis and risk diseases has been poorly elucidated in young or adolesent patients.

The progression of arterioslerosis in young and adolescent patients was evaluated by use of carotid DUS(Duplex Ultrasonography) and CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index). All these measurements and calculation systems were equipped together and automatically calculated in the VaSera (Fukuda Denshi Inc, Tokyo, Japan).

Conclusion, an increase in the number of risk factors also results in progression of arteriosclerosis in young and adolescent patient. Hypertension was the most important risk factor for arterioslerosis in these patients.

For further information, click here