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Exploring the association between phase angle of bioimpedance at 50 kHz and cardiovascular risk
Evandro Lucas de Borba1,2, Cristina Wichbold3, Jamile Ceolin1
1Medical School, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Insights
Phase angle, a marker of cellular health, is lower in patients with high cardiovascular disease risk. This finding suggests phase angle may predict cardiovascular disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical science
- Cardiovascular research
- Health informatics
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases involve chronic inflammation, damaging cells.
- Phase angle indicates cellular health and prognosis.
- Limited research exists on phase angle and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between phase angle and CVD risk scores.
- To compare phase angle with the Framingham Risk Score and the HEARTS Risk Score.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of adult patients from primary care.
- Phase angle measured via multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (50 kHz).
- Cardiovascular event risk assessed using Framingham and HEARTS scores.
- Generalized linear regression models used for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- 164 adults included (mean age 52.2).
- Lower phase angle observed in high/very high-risk groups per HEARTS score (P=0.003).
- A trend for lower phase angle in high-risk groups per Framingham score (P=0.06).
Conclusions:
- Phase angle values are lower in individuals with higher CVD risk.
- Phase angle shows promise as a predictive marker for cardiovascular disease risk.
Background:
Cardiovascular diseases are characterized by chronic inflammation, leading to increased inflammatory markers that can cause cell damage and death. Phase angle has emerged as a marker of cellular health. It is considered a prognostic factor in various acute and chronic conditions. However, few studies have examined its association with cardiovascular disease risk measures. This study aims to investigate the relationship between phase angle, the general Framingham risk score, and the HEARTS cardiovascular risk score.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of adult patients of 2 primary health care services. Phase angle was measured using multifrequency bioimpedance analysis at 50 kHz. The risk of cardiovascular events was calculated using the Framingham and HEARTS risk scores. Statistical analysis included generalized linear regression models, unadjusted and adjusted according to sex and age, to determine the association between scores, risk factors, and phase angle.
Results:
The study included 164 individuals with a mean age 52.2 (SD 17.9). According to the HEARTS score, low-risk patients had higher phase angle values than those with high or very high risk [ß = -0.57 (95% CI -0.95; -0.19), P = 0.003]. Framingham scores showed a trend toward significance for higher mean phase angle values in low-risk than high-risk patients [ß = -0.43 (95% CI -0.88 to 0.02), P = 0.06].
Conclusion:
Phase angle values were lower in high and very high-risk patients than in low-risk patients, which shows that phase angle is a promising risk predictor for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
