Association of vascular stiffness and geriatric syndromes in hypertensive elderly patients

Aim. To study the relationship of vascular stiffness (cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI)) with frailty and other geriatric syndromes in hypertensive elderly patients.

Material and methods. The study included 160 patients aged 60 to 101 years with verified stage I-III hypertension. The previous therapy was assessed. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed with functional and neuropsychological tests to identify geriatric syndromes. Vascular stiffness was assessed by VaSera-VS-1500 vascular screening system (FUKUDA DENSHI, Japan) with determination of the CAVI.

Results. The mean age of the patients was 77,2±8,1 years (n=160): in the group of patients without frailty — 72,4±6,9 years (n=50), with prefrailty — 76,6±8,1 years (n=50), with frailty — 81,7±6,6 (n=60). Patients with frailty had a higher CAVI than those without frailty and with prefrailty (10,3±1,6 vs 9,3±1,0 and 9,6±1,8, respectively; p=0,002).

In patients with frailty, a negative correlation was found between the vascular stiffness and body mass index (BMI) (Rs=-0,392 (p=0,002)), and a positive correlation between the CAVI and orthostatic response (Rs=0,382 (p=0,003). In patients with prefrailty, negative relationships were found with the dynamometric parameters (Rs=-0,329 (p=0,019)), BMI (Rs=-0,343 (p=0,015) and physical activity (Rs=-0,285 (p=0,047)).

In patients without frailty, the vascular stiffness was associated with an increased total cholesterol level (Rs=0,379 (p=0,009)), a low physical activity (Rs=-0,355 (p=0,015)), as well as negative correlations were found with the clock-drawing test and falls (Rs=-0,458 (p=0,011) and Rs=-0,306 (p=0,031), respectively).

Conclusion. Vascular stiffness in elderly patients with frailty is associated with a decrease in body mass index and orthostatic hypotension. At the stage of prefrailty, the relationship between the vascular stiffness and muscle strength decrease (according to dynamometry) was revealed.

Thus, the vascular stiffness is associated with frailty markers itself.

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