Association between Phase Angle and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Adults: A Large Scale Cross-Sectional...

The phase angle (PhA) derived from a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study explored the relationship between PhA and the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic adults.

Two cross-sectional studies were performed on 15579 participants who underwent carotid ultrasound testing and a BIA as well as 8228 participants who underwent brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) testing and a BIA. We also conducted a longitudinal study in participants without CVD and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) at baseline who underwent carotid ultrasound ≥ 2 times (n = 2680) or baPWV testing [≥ 2 times] (n = 1775). CAS and the brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were selected as the subclinical atherosclerosis markers.

In the cross-sectional studies, participants with CAS (5.43±0.60° vs. 5.73±0.61°, P＜0.001) or elevated baPWV (5.38±0.62° vs. 5.74±0.59°, P＜0.001) had lower PhA values than controls. Furthermore, the PhA value was independently and inversely correlated with CAS (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.46, P＜0.001) and elevated baPWV (adjusted OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.39-0.52, P＜0.001). Restricted cubic spline curve analyses indicated dose-response associations of PhA values with subclinical atherosclerosis. In the longitudinal study, high PhA values at baseline decreased the risk of incident CAS (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.44, 95% CI 0.36-0.54, P＜0.001). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the PhA was negatively associated with absolute or relative annual changes in baPWV.

The PhA value is significantly associated with the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis, indicating that PhA may serve as a noninvasive marker for monitoring subclinical atherosclerosis in a primary prevention setting.