Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026
Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
Published on: December 2, 2014
Metabolic syndrome and age-related progression of aortic stiffness
Michel E Safar1, Frédérique Thomas, Jacques Blacher
1Diagnosis Center, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France. michel.safar@htd.ap-hop-paris.fr
Insights
Metabolic syndrome accelerates aortic stiffness progression. This study found increased pulse wave velocity in individuals with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, indicating premature aging of arteries.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Metabolic Health
- Aging Research
Background:
- Arterial stiffness is elevated in metabolic syndrome (MS).
- Factors influencing MS-related arterial stiffness progression remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if clustered metabolic risk factors accelerate arterial stiffness with age in MS patients.
- To evaluate the impact of metabolic syndrome on the progression of arterial stiffness.
Main Methods:
- A six-year study of 476 subjects classified by cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (hypertension, BMI, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia).
- Baseline and follow-up measurements included blood pressure, heart rate, and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV).
- Adjustments were made for smoking habits, age, gender, and other potential confounders.
Main Results:
- Subjects with three or more CV risk factors (MS) exhibited significantly higher baseline PWV.
- The increase in PWV over six years was significantly greater in the MS group compared to those with fewer risk factors.
- These findings persisted after adjustments for multiple confounding variables.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic syndrome is linked to accelerated progression of aortic stiffness.
- This accelerated progression suggests premature arterial senescence in individuals with MS.
Unlabelled:
Aortic stiffness measured from pulse wave velocity (PWV) was studied during a six-year period in a population of subjects with zero to three and more cardiovascular (CV) factors involving hypertension, body mass index, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. During the follow-up, the increase in PWV was significantly higher in subjects with three and more CV risk factors (i.e., in subjects with metabolic syndrome) than in subjects with zero, one, or two factors, even after adjustments for confounding factors. Metabolic syndrome involves an increased progression of arterial stiffness with age and, thus, favors premature senescence.
Objectives:
The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether a clustering of metabolic risk factors might accelerate the progression of arterial stiffness with age in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS).
Background:
Arterial stiffness is increased in MS, but the genetic and environmental factors that might influence its progression are unknown.
Methods:
Four hundred seventy-six subjects were classified at baseline according to their number of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (from zero to three and more), after adjustment for smoking habits. The CV risk factors were: hypertension, body mass index, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia, classified according to traditional criterions. Subjects were followed for six years and had, at the beginning and end of the survey, determinations of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV).
Results:
At baseline, BP, HR, plasma creatinine, and PWV were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the group with three and more CV risk factors than in groups with zero to two risk factors. During the follow-up, the increase in PWV, but not in pulse pressure, was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the group with three and more risk factors (i.e., metabolic syndrome) than in other groups. Results were unmodified after adjustments for age, gender, baseline values, drug treatment, smoking habits, and mean arterial pressure.
Conclusions:
Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased progression of aortic stiffness with age, supporting premature senescence in these patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
01:22Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction