Evaluation of subclinical atherosclerosis in obese patients with three noninvasive methods: Arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness, and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with obesity who had cardiovascular disease risk indicators such as arterial stiffness, which is evaluated using pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction such as endocan, ADAMTS97, and ADAMTS9. Subjects and methods: Sixty obese subjects, including 23 subjects with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40, 37 subjects with BMI ≥ 30 but < 40, and 60 age-and sex-matched control subjects, were included in our study. Serum endocan, ADAMTS97, and ADAMTS9 levels as well as PWV and CIMT measurements of the subjects in the obese and control groups were performed. Results: In the obesity group, PWV levels were significantly higher than they were in the control group and endocan levels were significantly lower than they were in the control group. When we compared the obese group with BMI ≥ 40 and the control group, the BMI ≥ 40 group had significantly higher PWV and CIMT levels than the control group had, whereas endocan, ADAMTS7, and ADAMTS9 levels were similar to those of the control group. When we compared the obese group with BMI ≥ 30 < 40 to the control group, endocan levels were lower in the group with BMI ≥ 30 < 40, and PWV and CIMT levels were similar to the control group. Conclusions: We found that arterial stiffness and CIMT increased in obese patients with BMI ≥ 40 and that increased arterial stiffness was associated with age, systolic blood pressure, and HBA1C. In addition, we found that the endocan levels were lower in obese patients than they were in nonobese control individuals.

The Interconnection between Carotid Intima–Media Thickness and Obesity: Anthropometric, Clinical and Biochemical Correlations

“…CIMT was measured according to the Mannheim protocol using a linear ultrasound transducer (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) [15]. Patients were in a supine position with their neck in extension and the probe was in an antero-lateral position.…”

“…The current body of literature is still generally inconclusive, although one interesting study showed no difference in CIMT between men and women with obesity after adjustment for classic cardiovascular risk factors, while premenopausal status was protective; thus, more well-designed studies are needed [ 8 ]. Different methods can be utilized as indicators of the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as CIMT, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, but people with body mass index (BMI) grade III had significantly higher levels of PWV and CIMT than the control group [ 9 ]. The goal of our study was to determine the effect of obesity on CIMT in people with no previous myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), using diverse anthropometric parameters.…”