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Association of COVID-19 and Arterial Stiffness Assessed using Cardiovascular Index (CAVI)
Valery Podzolkov1, Anna Bragina1, Aida Tarzimanova1
1Department of Faculty Therapy No. 2, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia.
Insights
COVID-19 patients showed higher cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) values, indicating increased arterial stiffness. This study found a significant association between elevated CAVI and COVID-19, even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- COVID-19 is linked to acute inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, potentially impacting arterial stiffness.
- Previous studies have not investigated the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in COVID-19 patients considering cardiovascular risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
- To adjust for known cardiovascular risk factors in this association.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study compared 174 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with 94 controls.
- Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) values were measured using VaSera VS - 1500N.
- Multivariate logistic regression analyzed the independent association between COVID-19 and increased CAVI (≥ 9.0), adjusting for age, hypertension, glucose, GFR, and diabetes.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly higher right and left CAVI values compared to controls.
- Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between elevated CAVI and COVID-19 (OR 2.41 [CI 1.09;5.30]).
- This association remained significant after adjusting for key cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized COVID-19 patients demonstrate significantly increased cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) values.
- An independent association exists between elevated CAVI and COVID-19, irrespective of common cardiovascular risk factors.
Background:
COVID-19 is characterized by an acute inflammatory response with the formation of endothelial dysfunction and may affect arterial stiffness. Studies of cardio-ankle vascular index in COVID-19 patients with considered cardiovascular risk factors have not been conducted.
Objective:
The purpose of our study was to assess the association between cardio-ankle vascular index and COVID-19 in hospitalized patients adjusted for known cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study included 174 people hospitalized with a diagnosis of moderate COVID-19 and 94 people without COVID-19. Significant differences in the cardio-ankle vascular index values measured by VaSera VS - 1500N between the two groups were analyzed using parametric (Student's t-criterion) and nonparametric (Mann-Whitney) criteria. Independent association between COVID-19 and an increased cardio-ankle vascular index ≥ 9.0 adjusted for known cardiovascular risk factors was assessed by multivariate logistic regression.
Results:
There were significantly higher values of the right cardio-ankle vascular index 8.10 [7.00;9.40] and the left cardio-ankle vascular index 8.10 [6.95;9.65] in patients undergoing inpatient treatment for COVID-19 than in the control group - 7.55 [6.60;8.60] and 7.60 [6.60;8.70], respectively. A multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for age, hypertension, plasma glucose level, glomerular filtration rate and diabetes mellitus showed a significant association between increased cardio-ankle vascular index and COVID-19 (OR 2.41 [CI 1.09;5.30]).
Conclusion:
Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had significantly higher cardio-ankle vascular index values compared to the control group. An association between an increased cardio-ankle vascular index and COVID-19 was revealed, independent of age, hypertension, plasma glucose level, glomerular filtration rate and diabetes mellitus.
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