Age and gender differences of endothelial function in 4739 healthy adults: the HUNT3 Fitness Study

作者：Skaug Eli Anne; Aspenes Stian Thoresen; Oldervoll Line; Morkedal Bjorn; Vatten Lars; Wisloff Ulrik; Ellingsen Oyvind^*

来源：European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2013, 20(4): 531-540.

DOI：10.1177/2047487312444234

• Atherosclerosis
• endothelial function
• epidemiology
• population

Aims: Endothelial dysfunction is an important marker for prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease. However, there are no reference values for endothelial function in a healthy population. Our aim was to determine the distribution of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) values by gender and age in healthy adults. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods: FMD was measured by ultrasound during reactive hyperaemia in the brachial artery of 4739 adults aged 20-89 years, who were free from self-reported cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Differences in FMD across age and gender were analysed by multiple linear regression. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Total mean +/- SD FMD was 4.8 +/- 4.2%, with corresponding estimates of 4.3 +/- 3.9% for men and 5.3 +/- 4.5% for women (p%26lt;0.001). In total, 17% had FMD 0%, indicating endothelial dysfunction. FMD decreased with increasing age in both genders up to 70 years for men and 80 for women (p%26lt;0.001). In women, age-related decline in FMD was steepest after age 45; in men, a steady decline after age 30. In men 80 years and older, FMD was higher than in men aged 50-79 years. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: The distribution of FMD in this study is representative of the respective age and gender groups of a healthy population and may be a useful reference for future studies. The high proportion of endothelial dysfunction came as a surprise. Its age and gender distribution suggest that FMD 0% precedes cardiovascular disease and that it may be a powerful non-invasive biomarker for identifying high-risk individuals.

• 出版日期2013-8