The aging of elastic and muscular arteries: A comparison of diabetic and nondiabetic subjects

Objective To compare age-related changes in the mechanical properties of different arterial segments in normal volunteers and subjects with type 2 diabetes. Research Design and Methods In 169 subjects (diabetic n = 57 and nondiabetic n = 112), we assessed the mechanical properties of three arterial segments of differing wall composition. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured noninvasively in a thoraco-abdominal segment (carotid femoral PWV [PWVcf]), in an upper limb muscular artery (carotid radial PWV [PWVcr]), and from the aorta to the finger (PWV from the aorta to the finger [PWVfin]). Central aortic compliance (CAC) was also measured. Results Average CAC was lower (0.662 vs. 0.850, P < 0.05) and all measures of PWV tended to be faster in diabetic subjects despite the fact that they were, on average, 10 years younger. However, these measures were not related to age in diabetic subjects. After correcting for blood pressure, only PWVcf was associated with age in nondiabetic subjects (P < 0.001). Expressing results as ratios of nonelastic to elastic arterial segments (i.e., PWVcr-to-PWVcf and PWVfin-to-PWVcf) improved the relationship with age. Both PWVcr-to-PWVcf and PWVfin-to-PWVcf were significantly associated with age in nondiabetic subjects (r = −0.59, P < 0.001; r = −0.57, P < 0.001) but not in diabetic subjects (r = −0.15, P = 0.302; r = −0.24, P = 0.129). Multivariate analysis showed that the ratios were not associated with systolic blood pressure. Conclusions There are significant differences in the rate of age-related decline in vascular stiffness in elastic arteries of nondiabetic compared with diabetic arteries. Diabetic arteries appear to age at an accelerated rate at an earlier age and then reach a functional plateau

Is vascular stiffness associated with the diameter of the abdominal aorta?

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between abdominal aortic diameter, arterial compliance and the traditional cardiovascular risk factors in a group of healthy elderly subjects. In this study we have described the relationships between abdominal aortic diameter and the most important cardiovascular risk factors, showing that arterial compliance plays an important role in explaining, and potentially determining the diameter of the abdominal aorta and may thus be a new index to early recognize people at higher risk of AAA