Flow-mediated dilation reference values for evaluation of endothelial function and cardiovascular health

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Vascular Biology
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Endothelial function is critical for cardiovascular health.
• Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is an established method for assessing endothelial function.
• Establishing reference values for FMD in healthy populations is crucial for clinical application.

Approach:

• A meta-analysis and meta-regression of 82 clinical trials involving 3,509 individuals were conducted.
• FMD values were analyzed in 1,579 apparently healthy individuals across 44 studies.
• Predictors of FMD variability, including age, BMI, smoking, and brachial artery diameter, were identified.

Key Points:

• FMD values in healthy individuals are normally distributed and decline with age.
• Age, BMI, smoking, and brachial artery diameter are significant predictors of FMD, explaining 19% of variability.
• FMD values can help differentiate between healthy individuals and those with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Conclusions:

• Age-adapted FMD reference intervals are provided for use as a cardiovascular health biomarker.
• FMD integrates various factors, offering a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk.
• FMD serves as a valuable target for cardiovascular prevention strategies.