Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Measuring Ascending Aortic Stiffness In Vivo in Mice Using Ultrasound
Published on: December 2, 2014
Degree of arterial stiffness is comparable across inflammatory joint disease entities
F K Föhse1,2, S Rollefstad3, E Ikdahl3
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Oslo University Hospital-Aker, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Inflammatory joint disease patients show comparable arterial stiffness across conditions. This stiffness strongly correlates with estimated cardiovascular disease risk, highlighting the need for proactive CVD prevention in this group.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology and Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Inflammatory joint disease (IJD) is linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Arterial stiffness is a key CVD risk factor and marker.
- Understanding arterial stiffness in IJD is crucial for CVD risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare arterial stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.
- To explore the relationship between arterial stiffness and estimated CVD risk (SCORE).
- To identify factors associated with arterial stiffness in IJD patients.
Main Methods:
- 196 IJD patients assessed for CVD risk factors and arterial stiffness (aPWV).
- Comparison of arterial stiffness across IJD subtypes.
- Regression analysis to identify associated factors and correlation with SCORE.
Main Results:
- Arterial stiffness (aPWV) was comparable across IJD entities (p=0.69).
- Elevated aPWV (≥10 m/s) observed in 18.4% of patients.
- aPWV positively correlated with CVD risk (r=0.7, p<0.001); higher aPWV in high-risk patients.
Conclusions:
- Arterial stiffness is comparable across IJD types and strongly associated with CVD risk.
- Findings emphasize the need for enhanced CVD prevention strategies in all IJD patients.
- This study underscores the importance of monitoring arterial stiffness for cardiovascular risk stratification in IJD.
Objectives:
Inflammatory joint disease (IJD) is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness is both a risk factor and a surrogate marker for CVD. This study aims to compare arterial stiffness across patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, and, by extension, to explore the relationship between arterial stiffness and the estimated CVD risk by the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm.
Method:
During the study period, from April 2017 to June 2018, 196 patients with IJD visited the Preventive Cardio-Rheuma Clinic in Oslo, Norway. A CVD risk stratification was performed, including the assessment of traditional risk factors and the measurement of arterial stiffness.
Results:
Thirty-six patients (18.4%) had elevated aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) (≥ 10 m/s). After adjustment for age and heart rate, arterial stiffness was comparable across the IJD entities (p = 0.69). Associated factors, revealed by regression analysis, were age, blood pressure, heart rate, presence of carotid plaques, establis hed CVD, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and statin use. Furthermore, aPWV was positively correlated with estimated CVD risk (r = 0.7, p < 0.001) and patients with a very high predicted CVD risk (SCORE ≥ 10%) had significantly higher aPWV than patients at lower CVD risk (9.2 vs 7.5 m/s, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The degree of arterial stiffness was comparable across the IJD entities and was highly associated with the estimated CVD risk. Our findings support the need for an increased focus on prevention of CVD in all patients with IJD.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:30Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests
01:23Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway