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Prevalence of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis and Role of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Adults: Atherosclerosis and Aging are Not Synonyms

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Abstract

Introduction

Age is traditionally considered a major cardiovascular (CV) risk factor, but its real weight in the absence of other modifiable risk factors is not clear.

Aim

To compare the prevalence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, and its association with the main CV risk factors, between older adults and hypertensive adults.

Methods

Cross-sectional study on 210 consecutive patients: 70 older adults (age ≥ 80 years), and 140 hypertensive adults having at least another CV risk factor. Patients had no history of peripheral artery disease or major CV events.

Results

Mean age was 54.2 ± 7.2 years in hypertensive adults and 88.5 ± 5.5 years in older adults with a female prevalence in the latter group. Dyslipidemia and smoking were more prevalent in hypertensive adults, while chronic kidney disease was more prevalent in older adults. Prevalence of carotid plaques did not differ between hypertensive adults and older adults (48.2% vs 55.6%, respectively, p = 0.311). Age ≥ 80 years was not associated with a higher risk of carotid plaques even after adjusting for other risk factors (p = 0.204). Hypertension and dyslipidemia were the risk factors more strongly associated with carotid plaques in older adults and hypertensive adults, respectively. When older adults with hypertension were excluded from the analysis, prevalence of carotid plaques was significantly higher in hypertensive adults (p = 0.042).

Conclusion

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are the major determinant of atherosclerosis regardless of age in our study. Our findings support the concept that aging is not necessarily synonymous with atherosclerosis and highlight the key role played by superimposed CV risk factors on arterial ‘‘bad aging’’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, “Hypertension Excellence Centre” of the European Society of Hypertension, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy

    Francesco Spannella, Chiara Di Pentima, Federico Giulietti, Silvia Buscarini, Letizia Ristori, Piero Giordano & Riccardo Sarzani

  2. Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University “Politecnica delle Marche”, Ancona, Italy

    Francesco Spannella, Chiara Di Pentima, Federico Giulietti, Silvia Buscarini, Letizia Ristori & Riccardo Sarzani

  3. Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Hospital “U. Sestilli”, University “Politecnica delle Marche”, Italian National Research Centre on Aging, IRCCS INRCA, via della Montagnola n. 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy

    Riccardo Sarzani

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  1. Francesco Spannella
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Correspondence to Riccardo Sarzani.

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Spannella, F., Di Pentima, C., Giulietti, F. et al. Prevalence of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis and Role of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Older Adults: Atherosclerosis and Aging are Not Synonyms. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 27, 231–238 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-020-00375-0

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