The impact of age on endothelial dysfunction measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in a healthy population-based cohort – The Malmö Offspring Study
(2023) In Blood Pressure 32(1). p.1-7- Abstract
- Background/Aims
The reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) assesses endothelial function, with a proposed cut-off of <1.67 for prevalent endothelial dysfunction (ED). However, uncertainties remain about whether this cut-off is age-dependent and applicable in healthy individuals. We aimed to explore ED in relation to age within a large population-based cohort of young to middle-aged, healthy individuals.
MethodsWithin the Malmö Offspring Study, a total of 1812 subjects (50.9% women, mean age 48 ± 11 years) were included. Post-occlusion/pre-occlusion ratio of the pulsatile signal amplitudes... (More)
- Background/Aims
The reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) assesses endothelial function, with a proposed cut-off of <1.67 for prevalent endothelial dysfunction (ED). However, uncertainties remain about whether this cut-off is age-dependent and applicable in healthy individuals. We aimed to explore ED in relation to age within a large population-based cohort of young to middle-aged, healthy individuals.
MethodsWithin the Malmö Offspring Study, a total of 1812 subjects (50.9% women, mean age 48 ± 11 years) were included. Post-occlusion/pre-occlusion ratio of the pulsatile signal amplitudes in the non-dominant upper arm was used to calculate RHI by EndoPat®. ED was defined as RHI < 1.67. Multivariable regression models were used to explore associations between ED and age.
ResultsPrevalent ED was found in 534 (29.5%) participants. In subjects aged ≤30 years, ED was present in 47.4% compared to 27.6% in subjects ≥30 years (p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, ED was associated with younger age (p < 0.001), higher BMI (p < 0.001) and current smoking (p < 0.001). No sex differences were observed.
ConclusionIn a large healthy population, RHI < 1.67, an early marker of endothelial dysfunction, was more prevalent in younger individuals, implying that RHI might not be a suitable measure of endothelial function in individuals under 30 years of age. Our findings suggest that low RHI in young, healthy individuals may not necessarily indicate true ED but rather an artefact of the limited ability of young and healthy arteries to dilate post-occlusion. Therefore, the term "pseudo-ED" may be applicable to young individuals with low RHI values.
(Less)
- author
- Jujic, Amra LU ; Kennbäck, Cecilia LU ; Johansson, Madeleine LU ; Nilsson, P. M. LU and Holm, H. LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Endothelial dysfunction, Reactive hyperemia, population studies
- in
- Blood Pressure
- volume
- 32
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 1 - 7
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:37438962
- scopus:85164542190
- ISSN
- 0803-7051
- DOI
- 10.1080/08037051.2023.2234059
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 337cd66b-d193-49c3-8151-3664c3d2d1fb
- date added to LUP
- 2023-07-13 10:49:17
- date last changed
- 2023-07-27 04:05:32
@article{337cd66b-d193-49c3-8151-3664c3d2d1fb, abstract = {{Background/Aims<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.5em 0px; word-break: break-word;">The reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) assesses endothelial function, with a proposed cut-off of <1.67 for prevalent endothelial dysfunction (ED). However, uncertainties remain about whether this cut-off is age-dependent and applicable in healthy individuals. We aimed to explore ED in relation to age within a large population-based cohort of young to middle-aged, healthy individuals.</p>Methods<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.5em 0px; word-break: break-word;">Within the Malmö Offspring Study, a total of 1812 subjects (50.9% women, mean age 48 ± 11 years) were included. Post-occlusion/pre-occlusion ratio of the pulsatile signal amplitudes in the non-dominant upper arm was used to calculate RHI by EndoPat®. ED was defined as RHI < 1.67. Multivariable regression models were used to explore associations between ED and age.</p>Results<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.5em 0px; word-break: break-word;">Prevalent ED was found in 534 (29.5%) participants. In subjects aged ≤30 years, ED was present in 47.4% compared to 27.6% in subjects ≥30 years (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">p</i> < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, ED was associated with younger age (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">p</i> < 0.001), higher BMI (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">p</i> < 0.001) and current smoking (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">p</i> < 0.001). No sex differences were observed.</p>Conclusion<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0.5em 0px; word-break: break-word;">In a large healthy population, RHI < 1.67, an early marker of endothelial dysfunction, was more prevalent in younger individuals, implying that RHI might not be a suitable measure of endothelial function in individuals under 30 years of age. Our findings suggest that low RHI in young, healthy individuals may not necessarily indicate true ED but rather an artefact of the limited ability of young and healthy arteries to dilate post-occlusion. Therefore, the term "pseudo-ED" may be applicable to young individuals with low RHI values.</p>}}, author = {{Jujic, Amra and Kennbäck, Cecilia and Johansson, Madeleine and Nilsson, P. M. and Holm, H.}}, issn = {{0803-7051}}, keywords = {{Endothelial dysfunction; Reactive hyperemia; population studies}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{1}}, pages = {{1--7}}, publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}}, series = {{Blood Pressure}}, title = {{The impact of age on endothelial dysfunction measured by peripheral arterial tonometry in a healthy population-based cohort – The Malmö Offspring Study}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08037051.2023.2234059}}, doi = {{10.1080/08037051.2023.2234059}}, volume = {{32}}, year = {{2023}}, }