P1.31 A COMPARISON OF THE POPLITEAL AND CAROTID ARTERIES IN YOUNG AND OLDER CAUCASIAN MEN AND WOMEN

Abstract

Objectives: The popliteal artery resemble the carotid artery in structure and function1. The aim of this study was to determine whether the popliteal artery resemble the carotid artery in structure and function in young and older Caucasian men and women. Methods: Hundred and twenty Caucasian men and women were equally divided into four groups according to age (20–30; 40–60 years). A general health questionnaire were completed by the participants. Cardiovascular and anthropometric measurements were executed which included blood pressure, carotid femoral PWV (Complior SP Acquisition system) as well as popliteal and carotid IMT (Vivid E9, GE). Results and conclusion: We observed an inverse association (r=−0.60; P=0.001) between popliteal IMT and c-fPWV in young men after adjusted for age, BMI and smoking with no association found in older men, young and older women. We also encountered a positive association between the carotid IMT and popliteal IMT (r=0.44; P=0.02) only in young women. Mean CSWA of the carotid artery differed significantly from the popliteal CSWA amongst the men (2.31 cm2 vs. 1.91 cm2; P=0.001) and the younger women (1.71 cm2 vs. 1.47 cm2; P=0.048). We concluded that popliteal and carotid arteries, in young and older Caucasian men and women, do not exhibit similar structural or functional properties.