VASCULAR AGE AND CARDIO-ANKLE VASCULAR INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH UNCONTROLLED ARTERIAL HYPERTENSON

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine
• Hypertension Research

Background:

• Chronological age is a standard cardiovascular risk factor, but individual health status varies significantly at the same age.
• Vascular age (VA) estimates arterial wall pathology, with arterial stiffness being a common metric.
• Hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) is a critical concern in cardiovascular health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate arterial stiffness and VA in patients with controlled (CH) and uncontrolled hypertension (UH) compared to a control group.
• To examine the relationship between chronological age, VA, and HMOD markers.
• To assess the impact of VA on cardiovascular risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• Study included 140 patients: 80 CH, 30 UH, and 30 controls, matched for age, sex, and hypertension duration.
• Arterial stiffness was measured using cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).
• VA was calculated, and correlations with HMOD markers (IMT, GFR, PBP, SBP, ESV, LVPW, IVS) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Mean CAVI was significantly higher in UH (9.2±1.14) and CH (7.8±1.19) groups compared to controls (7±0.64).
• VA was significantly higher in both CH and UH groups compared to their chronological age.
• VA showed significant positive correlations with HMOD markers like IMT, ESV, GFR, LVPW, and IVS thickness.

Conclusions:

• Uncontrolled and controlled hypertension significantly accelerate vascular age compared to chronological age.
• Vascular age assessment identified approximately 30% of CH and UH patients as higher risk for cardiovascular events.
• VA is a valuable tool for refining cardiovascular risk assessment in hypertensive patients, especially when traditional age-based risk is underestimated.