The relationship between pulse pressure and leukoaraiosis in the elderly

Leukaraiosis and a higher level of pulse pressure are well-recognized as associated with cardiovascular disease, vascular angiopathy, and geriatric syndrome. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relation between pulse pressure and leukoaraiosis based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the apparently healthy elderly (147 men aged 60-84 years and 89 women aged 60-82 years). The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for leukoaraiosis were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analyses according to each quartile of pulse pressure. The percentage of leukoaraiosis gradually increased in accordance with pulse pressure quartiles: 5.1%, 8.6%, 16.1%, and 26.2% for men, and 4.5%, 8.7%, 13.0%, and 23.8% for women. In comparison with subjects in the lowest quartile, the OR (95%CI) for leukoaraiosis in the highest quartile was 6.80 (1.20-38.45) in men after adjusting for age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), smoking status, and current drinking. However, the relationship was not evident in women after adjusting for the same co-variables. In conclusion, pulse pressure was found to be independently associated with leukoaraiosis regardless of classical cardiovascular risk factors in elderly men.