Relation between aortic stiffness and extension of coronary artery disease

Authors: ÖMER ŞATIROĞLU, MEHMET BOSTAN, NERMİN BAYAR, YÜKSEL ÇİÇEK, MUSTAFA ÇETİN, ENGİN BOZKURT

Abstract: To investigate the relation between aortic stiffness and the extension/severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and methods: A consecutive 100 patients with suspicion of CAD who underwent elective coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. Of those patients determined as having CAD, 63 were classified as Group I (mean age: 62.1 ± 10.3 years; 47 male and 16 female). Group II included 37 patients with normal coronary arteries (mean age: 51.4 ± 10.8 years; 20 male and 17 female). Aortic flexibility (aortic distensibility and stiffness index) was evaluated by echocardiography after coronary angiography in all of the patients. Patient data were gathered in relation to age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors. Stenosis above 50% was accepted as severe CAD. The extension of coronary artery disease was determined using the Gensini score. Results: The mean age (62.1 ± 10.3 and 51.4 ± 10.8, respectively) and the male/female rate in Group I were higher than in Group II (P < 0.001 and P = 0.035, respectively). The mean aortic stiffness in Group I was significantly increased compared to Group II (8.9 ± 5.1 mm and 6.1 ± 4.6 mm, respectively; P = 0.001), whereas the mean aortic distensibility in Group I was significantly lower than in Group II (23.4 ± 16.5 mm and 42.4 ± 27.1 mm, respectively; P < 0.001). The aortic stiffness index increased and distensibility decreased in correlation with age, coronary artery risk factors, and extension of CAD. Conclusion: The aortic stiffness index increased and distensibility decreased in correlation with CAD extension and the number of affected coronary arteries.

Keywords: Aortic stiffness, distensibility, coronary artery disease extension, Gensini score, coronary angiography

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