Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

An Approach to Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta
07:12

An Approach to Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta

Published on: September 8, 2023

Abdominal aortic tortuosity is not associated with other vascular peripheral pathologies or classical cardiovascular

Francesc Ribas-Aulinas1,2, Lluís Zacarias-Pons1,2, Daniel Benitez-Gracia3

  • 1Grup d'Investigació en Salut Vascular de Girona (ISV- Girona), Institut Universitari d'Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), Catalunya, Spain.

Scientific Reports
|June 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Abdominal aortic tortuosity (AAT) is linked to age and kidney function, but not traditional cardiovascular risks. This study found AAT is not a reliable subclinical marker for vascular diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology and Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Imaging and Diagnostics
  • Geriatric Medicine and Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis contributes to peripheral vascular diseases (PAD), with risk factors including age, diabetes, and hypertension.
  • Arterial tortuosity has been associated with vascular fragility and arteriopathies.
  • The role of abdominal aortic tortuosity (AAT) as a subclinical marker for vascular disease requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between abdominal aortic tortuosity (AAT) and arteriopathies in other vascular beds.
  • To assess the potential of AAT as a subclinical marker for peripheral vascular disease (PAD).
  • To identify factors associated with AAT in individuals aged 50 years and older.

Main Methods:

  • A multivariate log-linear regression model was employed to analyze factors associated with AAT.
  • The analysis included 490 individuals (mean age 66.92 years) from the Ageing Imageomics Study.
  • The model was adjusted for carotid calcification, stiffness, stenosis, clinical characteristics, and prior vascular diseases.

Main Results:

  • Abdominal aortic tortuosity (AAT) index showed a strong dependence on age.
  • AAT was also associated with diastolic blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but to a lesser extent.
  • Classical cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking), aortic stiffness, and calcification were not significantly associated with AAT.

Conclusions:

  • The study does not support the use of the abdominal aortic tortuosity (AAT) index as a subclinical marker for cardiac, cerebrovascular, or peripheral vascular disease.
  • AAT was found to be independent of most classical cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities.
  • Age and renal function (eGFR) are key determinants of AAT.

Keywords:
AtherosclerosisCalcificationCardiovascular riskPeripheral arterial diseaseStiffnessTortuosity index

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