Age-specific determinants of pulse wave velocity among metabolic syndrome components, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress

Aim: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is thought to have different relationships with metabolic syndrome (MS) components, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress, according to age. However, age-specific determinants of PWV have not yet been studied. We investigated age-dependent relationships among PWV and MS components, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. Methods: A total of 4,318 subjects were divided into 4 groups: 19–34 y (n₌687), 35–44 y (n₌ 1,413), 45–54 y (n₌1,384), and 55–79 y (n₌834). MS components, brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and oxidative stress markers were measured. Results: There were age-related increases in MS, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), triglycerides, glucose, hs-CRP, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), 8-epi-prostaglandin F_2α (8-epi-PGF_2α), and baPWV. BaPWV was significantly associated with sex and elevated BP in the 19–34 y group; with age, sex, BMI, elevated BP and triglycerides in the 35–44 y group; with age, sex, elevated BP, fasting glucose, hs-CRP and oxidized LDL in the 45–54 y group; and with age, BMI, elevated BP, fasting glucose and oxidized LDL in the 55–79 y group. Conclusions: Our results show that age-related increases in baPWV are associated with age-related changes in MS components, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress. However, each of these factors has an age-specific, different impact on arterial stiffness. In particular, oxidative stress may be independently associated with arterial stiffness in individuals older than 45 y.