Zhu Zhengqiu, Chen Lingshan, Liu Wenjun, Zou Chong, Wang Yinping, Wu Yiyun, Shen Bixiao, Ma Xuehui, Gao Hui, Dai Ping, Huang Hui
Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Eur Radiol. 2025 Sep 8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-025-11979-2.
To evaluate the predictive role of carotid stiffening, quantified using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV), for assessing cardiovascular risk in young populations with no or elevated cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).
This study enrolled 180 young, apparently healthy individuals who underwent ufPWV measurements. They were classified into three groups: the CVRF-free group (n = 60), comprising current non-smokers with untreated blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, fasting blood glucose (FBG) < 7.0 mmol/L, total cholesterol (TC) < 6.2 mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein < 4.1 mmol/L, and high-density lipoprotein ≥ 1.0 mmol/L; the CVRF-optimal group (n = 54), including those with untreated blood pressure < 120/80 mmHg, TC < 5.2 mmol/L, and FBG < 5.6 mmol/L; and the atherosclerosis (AS)-risk group (n = 66), with participants who did not meet the aforementioned criteria. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals and ordinal logistic regression models were used.
Carotid stiffening significantly differed among CVRF groups at both participant and carotid levels, and across age, sex, and carotid intima-media thickness subgroups (all p < 0.05). Carotid stiffening significantly correlated with age (r up to 0.464, p < 0.001) and BMI (r up to 0.502, p < 0.001) overall, in CVRF groups, and in men and women. Increased carotid stiffness was associated with elevated CVRFs in young populations, with the OR of 2.21-7.71, independent of major CVRFs.
ufPWV-estimated carotid stiffening can be a promising tool for early detection of cardiovascular risk in young populations with no or elevated CVRFs.
Question What is the association between cardiovascular risk, as characterized by exposure to varying levels of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), and carotid stiffening in young populations? Findings Ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV)-estimated carotid stiffening is associated with cardiovascular risk in young populations with optimal, normal, and elevated CVRFs, independent of major CVRFs. Clinical relevance ufPWV can be a promising quantitative predictor for assessing cardiovascular risk in young people. Its potential discrimination helps improve the understanding of early atherogenesis and guides the clinical assessment of enhanced cardiovascular risk in adults under 40 years of age.
评估使用超快速脉搏波速度（ufPWV）量化的颈动脉僵硬度在评估无心血管危险因素（CVRF）或CVRF升高的年轻人群心血管风险中的预测作用。
本研究纳入了180名表面健康的年轻人，他们接受了ufPWV测量。他们被分为三组：无CVRF组（n = 60），包括目前不吸烟、未治疗的血压<140/90 mmHg、空腹血糖（FBG）<7.0 mmol/L、总胆固醇（TC）<6.2 mmol/L、低密度脂蛋白<4.1 mmol/L且高密度脂蛋白≥1.0 mmol/L的人群；CVRF最佳组（n = 54），包括未治疗的血压<120/80 mmHg、TC<5.2 mmol/L且FBG<5.6 mmol/L的人群；以及动脉粥样硬化（AS）风险组（n = 66），其参与者不符合上述标准。使用了调整后的比值比（OR）及其95%置信区间和有序逻辑回归模型。
在参与者和颈动脉水平上，以及在年龄、性别和颈动脉内膜中层厚度亚组中，CVRF组之间的颈动脉僵硬度存在显著差异（所有p<0.05）。总体而言，在CVRF组以及男性和女性中，颈动脉僵硬度与年龄（r高达0.464，p<0.001）和体重指数（BMI）（r高达0.502，p<0.001）显著相关。颈动脉僵硬度增加与年轻人群中CVRF升高相关，OR为2.21 - 7.71，独立于主要CVRF。
ufPWV估计的颈动脉僵硬度可能是早期检测无CVRF或CVRF升高的年轻人群心血管风险的有前景的工具。
问题：以接触不同水平的心血管危险因素（CVRF）为特征的心血管风险与年轻人群的颈动脉僵硬度之间有何关联？研究结果：超快速脉搏波速度（ufPWV）估计的颈动脉僵硬度与CVRF最佳、正常和升高的年轻人群的心血管风险相关，独立于主要CVRF。临床意义：ufPWV可能是评估年轻人心血管风险的有前景的定量预测指标。其潜在的辨别能力有助于增进对早期动脉粥样硬化的理解，并指导对40岁以下成年人增强的心血管风险的临床评估。
