Life (Sep 2024)

Relationship of Non-Invasive Arterial Stiffness Parameters with 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score in Post-COVID-19 Patients—The Results of a Cross-Sectional Study

  • Danuta Loboda,
  • Beata Sarecka-Hujar,
  • Marta Nowacka-Chmielewska,
  • Izabela Szoltysek-Boldys,
  • Wioleta Zielinska-Danch,
  • Michal Gibinski,
  • Jacek Wilczek,
  • Rafal Gardas,
  • Mateusz Grabowski,
  • Mateusz Lejawa,
  • Andrzej Malecki,
  • Krzysztof S. Golba

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091105
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 9
p. 1105

Abstract

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This study evaluated the relationship of non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters with an individual 10-year risk of fatal and non-fatal atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events in the cohort post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study group included 203 convalescents aged 60.0 (55.0–63.0) and 115 (56.7%) women. The ASCVD risk was assessed as low to moderate to very high based on medical history (for 62 participants with pre-existing ASCVD/diabetes/chronic kidney disease in the entire cohort) or calculated in percentages using the Systemic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2) algorithm based on age, sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure (BP), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (for 141 healthy participants). The stiffness index (SI) and reflection index (RI) measured by photoplethysmography, as well as pulse pressure (PP), calculated as the difference between systolic and diastolic BP, were markers of arterial stiffness. Stiffness parameters increased significantly with the increase in ASCVD risk in the entire cohort. In 30 (14.8%) patients in the low- to moderate-risk group, the median SI was 8.07 m/s (7.10–8.73), RI 51.40% (39.40–65.60), and PP 45.50 mmHg (40.00–57.00); in 111 (54.7%) patients in the high-risk group, the median SI was 8.70 m/s (7.40–10.03), RI 57.20% (43.65–68.40), and PP 54.00 mmHg (46.00–60.75); and in 62 (30.5%) patients in the very-high-risk group, the median was SI 9.27 m/s (7.57–10.44), RI 59.00% (50.40–72.40), and PP 60.00 mmHg (51.00–67.00). In healthy participants, the SI ≤ 9.0 m/s (sensitivity of 92.31%, area under the curve [AUC] 0.686, p 56.0 mmHg (sensitivity of 74.36%, AUC 0.736, p 56.0 mmHg, RI > 68.6%, and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg were related to very high SCORE2 risk. In conclusion, arterial stiffness is significantly related to ASCVD risk in post-COVID-19 patients and can be helpful as a single risk marker in everyday practice. Cut-off points for arterial stiffness parameters determined based on SCORE2 may help make individual decisions about implementing lifestyle changes or pharmacological treatment of ASCVD risk factors

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