Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
10:08

Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound

Published on: December 2, 2014

Hemoglobin A1c and arterial and ventricular stiffness in older adults

Susan J Zieman1, Aruna Kamineni, Joachim H Ix

  • 1National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

Plos One
|November 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

In older adults without diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) did not correlate with arterial or ventricular stiffness. Fasting glucose, however, showed significant associations with these stiffness measures.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Gerontology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • Arterial and ventricular stiffening are linked to diabetes and aging, increasing morbidity and mortality.
  • Advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) are implicated in the pathophysiology of stiffening.
  • Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is an AGE marker, but its role in stiffness in non-diabetic individuals is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between HbA1c and measures of arterial and ventricular stiffness.
  • To compare these associations with those of fasting glucose (FG) in older adults without diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of 830 participants (aged ≥ 65) from the Cardiovascular Health Study without diabetes.
  • Measurements included HbA1c, FG, echocardiography, blood pressure, and carotid ultrasonography.
  • Adjusted linear regression models were used to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • HbA1c showed no association with arterial stiffness (e.g., pulse pressure, carotid intima-media thickness) or ventricular stiffness (e.g., left ventricular mass).
  • Fasting glucose levels were positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and left ventricular mass.
  • HbA1c correlated with FG, BMI, and Black race.

Conclusions:

  • In older adults without diabetes, HbA1c is not associated with arterial or ventricular stiffness.
  • Fasting glucose is associated with increased arterial and ventricular stiffness in this population.
  • Alternative AGE markers may be more relevant for assessing AGEs' role in vascular stiffening in older adults.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy10:35

Measuring the Stiffness of Ex Vivo Mouse Aortas Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Published on: October 19, 2016

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging06:08

Pulse Wave Velocity Testing in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Published on: February 7, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Assessing Blood pressure in the Leg01:11

Assessing Blood pressure in the Leg

Proper measurement of leg blood pressure is a critical skill for healthcare providers, ensuring precise and reliable readings. When performed correctly, this procedure informs patient care and enhances the efficacy of interventions. The following text outlines step-by-step guidelines to measure blood pressure in the leg, providing clarity and ease of understanding for practitioners.
Preparation:
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation01:21

Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation

Clinical manifestationsPeripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) manifests through a range of symptoms, from the characteristic intermittent claudication to atypical presentations and severe complications in advanced stages. Intermittent claudication, a hallmark symptom of PAD, presents as exercise-induced muscle pain that typically resolves within minutes of rest. This pain is reproducible and stems from inadequate blood flow, leading to the accumulation of lactic acid produced during anaerobic...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)01:23

Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)

Measuring blood pressure is a fundamental skill in healthcare that aids in diagnosing and monitoring hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. An aneroid sphygmomanometer, commonly used in clinical settings, offers a manual and precise method for blood pressure measurement. The technique for using this instrument involves specific steps that must be carefully executed to ensure accuracy. The following detailed description outlines a two-step technique for assessing blood pressure using...