Correlation analysis of estimated pulse wave velocity and severe abdominal aortic calcification: based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database.

Abstract

Objective.To investigate how severe abdominal aortic calcification (SAAC) and estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) relate to each other and to all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortalities.Approach.National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014 data were analyzed. ePWV, computed using age and mean blood pressure, served as an independent variable. Dependent variable SAAC (AAC score >6) was quantified using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and Kauppila grading. A weighted logistic regression model, interaction terms, and restricted cubic spline analysis examined relationship between ePWV and SAAC. Kaplan-Meier curves were drawn among SAAC people. A weighted Cox regression model was built to examine associations of ePWV with all-cause and CVD mortalities.Main results.2849 individuals were included. A strong positive connection (odds ratio (OR) > 1,P< 0.05) was seen between ePWV and SAAC risk. Interaction termP-value indicated that only ethnicity (P< 0.05) had an impact on this link but smoking, alcohol use, age, sex, body mass index, or hypertension did not. SAAC patients showed greater ePWV, all-cause and CVD mortalities (P< 0.05) than non-SAAC subjects. Greater ePWV (>12.00 m s^-1) was associated with higher risks of all-cause and CVD mortalities in SAAC participants (hazard ratio (HR) > 1,P< 0.05). Significance.This study, for the first time based on the NHANES database, reveals a positive correlation between ePWV and SAAC, and identifies ePWV as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in patients with SAAC, providing a new biomarker for the prevention and early intervention of cardiovascular diseases.