Is the association between pulse wave velocity and bone mineral density the same for men and women? - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Brachial aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) and bone mineral density (BMD) are important indicators of cardiovascular health and bone strength, respectively. However, the gender-specific association between baPWV and BMD remains unclear. The aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between baPWV and BMD in men and women populations METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in electronic databases for relevant studies published between the 1th and 30rd of April 2023. Studies reporting the correlation between baPWV and BMD in both males and females were considered. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled correlation coefficients (r). RESULTS: Relevant data for both genders were found in six articles. In all publications included in the meta-analysis, the total number of studied individuals was 3800, with 2054 women and 1746 men. Pooled correlation coefficient was -0,24 (95 % CI: -0.34; -0.15) in women population, and -0.12 (95 %CI: -0.16, -0.06) in men. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the published data, we found that baPWV is negatively correlated with bone density in women. However, in men we do not find such a relationship. These findings suggest the importance of considering gender-specific factors when assessing the cardiovascular and bone health relationship.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Carotid-Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

COVID-19 is a complex multisystemic disease that can result in long-term complications and, in severe cases, death. This study investigated the effect of COVID-19 on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) as a measurement to evaluate its impact on arterial stiffness and might help predict COVID-19-related cardiovascular (CV) complications. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies, and meta-analysis was performed. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (nr. CRD42023434326). The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Nine studies reported cfPWV among COVID-19 patients and control groups. The pooled analysis showed that cfPWV in COVID-19 patients was 9.5 ± 3.7, compared to 8.2 ± 2.2 in control groups (MD = 1.32; 95% CI: 0.38-2.26; p = 0.006). A strong association between COVID-19 infection and increased cfPWV suggests a potential link between the virus and increased arterial stiffness. A marked increase in arterial stiffness, a known indicator of CV risk, clearly illustrates the cardiovascular implications of COVID-19 infection. However, further research is required to provide a clearer understanding of the connection between COVID-19 infection, arterial compliance, and subsequent CV events.

Diagnostic value of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In contemporary clinical practice, there is an increasing need for new clinically relevant biomarkers potentially optimizing management strategies in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic utility of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in individuals with suspected ACS. METHODS: A literature search was performed in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, for studies comparing suPAR levels among patients with and without ACS groups. The methodological quality of the included papers was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A fixed-effects model was used if I² < 50%; otherwise, the random-effects model was performed. RESULTS: Five studies with 3417 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that mean suPAR levels in the ACS group were statistically significantly higher than in the control group (3.56 ± 1.38 vs. 2.78 ± 0.54 ng/mL, respectively; mean difference: 1.04; 95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.44; I² = 99%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of acute coronary syndrome, suPAR is a potential biomarker for the early identification of medical conditions in individuals who are being treated in emergency rooms.

Relationship between the Central and Regional Pulse Wave Velocity in the Assessment of Arterial Stiffness Depending on Gender in the Geriatric Population.

Artery stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) between the carotid artery and the femoral artery (cfPWV) is considered the gold standard in the assessment of arterial stiffness. A relationship between cfPWV and regional PWV has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender on arterial stiffness measured centrally and regionally in the geriatric population. The central PWV was assessed by a SphygmoCor XCEL, and the regional PWV was assessed by a new device through the photoplethysmographic measurement of multi-site arterial pulse wave velocity (MPPT). The study group included 118 patients (35 males and 83 females; mean age 77.2 ± 8.1 years). Men were characterized by statistically significantly higher values of cfPWV than women (cfPWV 10.52 m/s vs. 9.36 m/s; p = 0.001). In the measurement of regional PWV values using MPPT, no such relationship was found. Gender groups did not statistically differ in the distribution of atherosclerosis risk factors. cfPWV appears to be more accurate than regional PWV in assessing arterial stiffness in the geriatric population.

[Pulse wave velocity - a useful tool in assessing the stiffness of the arteries]. / Pomiar predkosci fali tetna ­ uzyteczne narzedzie w ocenie sztywnosci tetnic.

Measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a simple and noninvasive way to assess stiffness of the arteries. PWV measurement can refer to both the aorta and peripheral arterial vessels. Currently, the most clinically significant is the measurement of PWV between the carotid artery and the femoral artery, which is defined as the speed of the aortic pulse wave. Numerous studies have demonstrated the significance of prognostic PWV aortic measurement as a recognized exponent of subclinical organ damage both among the general population as well as among patients with increased cardiovascular risk, examining patients in detail with hypertension, diabetes, chronic renal failure. The prognostic value of PWV aortic measurement was reflected in the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). In clinical trials, the repeatability and reproducibility of PWV measurements were also evaluated, both parameters being considered satisfactory. The paper presents reports from studies on the significance of pulse wave velocity results in the prognosis assessment in different disease entities as well as in age groups.

[Cardiovascular risk and inflammatory markers in patients with hypertension]. / Ryzyko sercowo-naczyniowe a markery zapalne u chorych na nadcisnienie tetnicze.

UNLABELLED: Arterial hypertension (AH) is one of the main risk factors of negative cardiovascular (CVR) events and the complex evaluation of CVR is necessary for the successful treatment of patients with AH. Simultaneously CVR increases when the inflammatory markers levels are elevated. AIM: The aim of study was to evaluate the frequency of CVR factors presence and their relation to the inflammatory markers in patients with AH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in group of 144 patients (99 men, mean age 45.2 years) with AH and no other diagnosed cardiovascular diseases. The clinical assessment included: i.e. fasting glucose (FG), total cholesterol (T-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and inflammatory markers: fibrinogen, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and leukocytes count (WBC). CVR was assessed based on the presence of the risk factors included in the ESC guidelines. RESULTS: Dylipidemia was observed in over 90% of patients in the study group (most often as the elevated level of T-C and LDL-C), abdominal obesity in 54.9%, more than 3 CVR factors in over 70% and increased levels of at least one of inflammatory markers in 40.3% of patients (most often hs-CRP - 35.4%). The statistically significant correlations between anthropometric parameters (BMI, waist cirfumference), laboratory parameters (HDL-C, TG) and inflammatory markers were observed, the strongest for BMI versus hs-CRP (r = 0.42, p < 0.000001). In the logic regression analysis the factors increasing the probability of the elevated inflammatory activity turned out to be: abdominal obesity - OR 3.05 (95% CI: 1.49 - 12.22; p = 0.002); BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 - OR 3.18 (95% CI: 1.57 - 6.44; p = 0.0012) and the presence of more than 3 risk factors - OR 2.57 (95% CI: 1.13 - 5.83; p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The increased level of inflammatory markers is related to the complex metabolic disturbances and the assessment of the activation of inflammatory process (especially hsCRP) can be useful in the complex CVR evaluation and profound defining of therapeutical goals.