Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, STR 6.131, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2013 Jan;17(1):97-104. doi: 10.1007/s12603-012-0424-2.
Functional decline is a major threat to independency, progressing into functional limitations and eventually leading to disability. Chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, are important determinants of functional limitations and disability. Vascular damage exits long before it is clinically manifest and can have adverse effects on health, physical and cognitive functioning. The objective was to investigate the association between non-invasive atherosclerosis measures and physical functioning in older men.
Prospective cohort study.
The study was conducted in the general community.
195 independently living older men.
Atherosclerosis was measured by intima media thickness (CIMT) of the common carotid artery using ultrasonography and assessment for presence of atherosclerotic plaques. Physical functioning was measured by isometric handgrip strength and leg extensor strength using a hand held dynamometer, lower extremity function using the physical performance score and ability to perform activities of daily life using the modified Stanford health assessment questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the associations between CIMT or plaques and physical functioning.
After adjustment for confounders, higher baseline CIMT was associated with lower isometric handgrip strength at follow up (βCIMT = -7.21, 95% CI[-13.64;-0.77]). No other associations were found between CIMT and physical functioning. In addition, no associations were found for the presence of plaques and physical functioning either at baseline, or at follow-up.
Atherosclerosis, as measured by higher CIMT, is related to a lower isometric handgrip strength at follow-up, but no further associations with physical functioning were found in this longitudinal study among independently living older men.
功能衰退是独立的主要威胁，会逐渐发展为功能受限，最终导致残疾。慢性疾病，尤其是心血管疾病，是功能受限和残疾的重要决定因素。血管损伤在临床上表现出来之前就已经存在，并且会对健康、身体和认知功能产生不良影响。本研究旨在探讨非侵入性动脉粥样硬化指标与老年男性身体功能之间的关系。
前瞻性队列研究。
研究在一般社区进行。
195 名独立生活的老年男性。
通过超声检查测量颈总动脉内中膜厚度（CIMT）来评估动脉粥样硬化，并用手持测力计测量握力和腿部伸肌力量，用物理表现评分评估下肢功能，用改良斯坦福健康评估问卷评估日常生活活动能力。采用线性回归分析来估计 CIMT 或斑块与身体功能之间的关系。
在调整了混杂因素后，较高的基线 CIMT 与随访时较低的握力呈负相关（βCIMT=-7.21，95%CI[-13.64;-0.77]）。CIMT 与身体功能之间没有其他关联。此外，在基线或随访时，斑块的存在与身体功能之间也没有关联。
在这项独立生活的老年男性的纵向研究中，通过较高的 CIMT 测量的动脉粥样硬化与随访时较低的握力相关，但未发现与身体功能进一步相关。
