The Impact of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Aortic Stiffness and Wave Reflections Depends on Age

Ageing exerts differential effects on arterial stiffness and wave reflections. However, the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on arterial stiffness and wave reflections and, particularly, how such effects are influenced by ageing has not been assessed within a single large population, covering a sufficiently wide age range. Therefore, we determined the extent to which age alters the impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on arterial stiffness and wave reflections. Aortic stiffness and wave reflections were assessed in 4421 individuals (age range 18 to 92 years). When treated as continuous variables, clinic systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressures and glucose levels were independently associated with stiffness, and, with the exception of diastolic pressure, these associations were more marked in older individuals. In contrast, clinic systolic and diastolic pressures and smoking were independently associated with wave reflections, with stronger associations observed in younger individuals. The impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on arterial stiffness and wave reflections is strongly dependent on age and is largely driven by blood pressure. Additional studies are required to assess the impact of these arterial measures on cardiovascular outcome within a single population.